Cell-based Therapies for Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Recent Advances

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is caused by a selective autoimmune-mediated destruction of insulin-producing β-cells. Exogenous insulin delivery continues to be the only standard treatment method. Even though some patients accurately comply with their prescribed course of medication, transient episodes of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia cannot be entirely avoided by this symptomatic treatment. With a better understanding of disease development and stratification, nowadays more personalized therapeutic approaches are emerging for T1DM. In this review, we summarise the highlights of some of the potential cell-based therapies for T1DM. Specifically, we focus on islet transplantation approaches, the generation of insulin-producing cells from stem cells, trans-differentiation of other cell types into β-cells, discussing the role of mutagens either in preserving the β-cell mass or inducing the β-cell proliferation, tissue engineering approach, etc. Even though stem cell differentiated β-cells are promising, there are considerable obstacles that must be overcome before the dream of personalized T1DM therapy is realised.