Adult Stem Cells Show Early Promise in Treating Diabetes

Transfusions of adult stem cells have halted the progression of type 1 diabetes in 14 of 15 people enrolled in a small, highly experimental study, researchers reported this week.

If the findings are replicated in larger groups and proven to be safe, they will be a landmark in both stem cell science and diabetes treatment.

The patients, ages 14 to 31, were treated with drugs and hormones that prompted the body to produce hematopoietic stem cells and send them from the bone marrow into the bloodstream, from which a machine then extracted them.

About two weeks later, the patients checked into the hospital and received chemotherapy and other drugs to kill off their immune systems over a period of five days. Side effects for most patients included nausea, vomiting and hair loss.

After a day of rest, they were infused with their own hematopoietic stem cells, which took about eight to 12 days to establish new immune systems. While the patients were without functioning immune systems, they were given antibiotics to protect them from possible infections.

Their immune systems thus rebuilt, 12 of the 15 patients were able to quit taking insulin immediately, and two more quit within two years. But on a cautionary note:

Dr. Defu Zeng, a diabetes researcher at City of Hope, has used a similar technique to wean diabetic mice off insulin. All of the mice eventually relapsed, which leads him to suspect that the Brazilian diabetics will too.

"We need to wait at least five or six years," Zeng said. "It's too early to make any conclusions."

Stem cells shown to rein in Type 1 diabetes [Los Angeles Times]