Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Therapy for Allogeneic Pancreatic Islets Transplantation in a Rat Model of Diabetes Mellitus

Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Therapy for Allogeneic Pancreatic Islets Transplantation in a Rat Model of Diabetes Mellitus: Reducing the Minimal Islet Transplant Mass Required

By: Mona Navaei-Nigjeh

Introduction:

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM)

• According to the WHO 347 million people worldwide have diabetes in 2010 and, in 2030, this complex disease will be the 7th leading cause of death.
• 10% of the diabetic population has T1DM.
• T1DM is an autoimmune disease in which insulin-producing β-cells are destroyed by the immune system.

Islet Transplantation

• Advantages:
  • Less invasive
  • More available sources (donors)
  • Ex-vivo manipulation of isolated islets
  • Potential for engraftment in immunoprivileged sites

Islet Transplantation

• Limitations:
  • Loss of islet viability during isolation and culture
  • Inadequate revascularization of transplanted islets
  • Shortage of donor pancreata
  • Immune-mediated destruction (autoimmune recurrence & immune rejection)