TITLE:
C-peptide increase in chronic type 1 diabetic patients treated with autologous bone marrow cell transplantation through pancreatic artery catheterization: Three years follow-up
AUTHORS:
Alejandro Mesples, Shu Jiang, Yun Zhang, Zhaoxia Luo, Xiang Hu
KEYWORDS:
Diabetes; Bone Marrow; Adult Stem Cells; Catheterization
JOURNAL NAME:
Stem Cell Discovery,
Vol.3 No.1,
January
22,
2013
ABSTRACT: Background: Recent extensive clinical evidence demonstrated that autologous adult stem cell therapy was safe and effective as a treatment strategy for type 1 diabetes. Our initial work was designed to examine the safety and efficacy of the implantation technique on 20 subjects with six months of evolution. This new report analyzes the results from three years follow up. Methods: With the authorization from the Ministry of Health of Argentina, 20 subjects with type 1 diabetes were treated with single autologous bone marrow cell transplantation into pancreatic blood flow through pancreatic artery catheterization immediately after bone marrow aspiration. The primary endpoint was defined as normalization of C-peptide and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) with insulin independence at 3 years posttreatment. Results: 15 subjects (75%) achieved clinical improvements. 7 subjects (33%) reached the primary endpoint, in which 4 subjets with decreased C-peptide levels required insulin administration again at 3 years post-treatment. Other 8 subjects (34%) showed partial function at 3 years post-treatment. There were no serious adverse events observed. No increases of islet cell antibody (ICA) and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibody. Conclusion: This procedure may be a safe and effective treatment for chronic type 1 diabetes. The follow-up results showed a significant increase of the pancreatic secretion of C-peptide and a decrease in the daily dose of exogenous insulin. This effect partially disappears by the three years follow-up without an increase of the level of the ICA and GAD antibodies.