Therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells for diabetes

J Mol Endocrinol. 2017 Oct;59(3):R109-R120. doi: 10.1530/JME-17-0117. Epub 2017 Jul 24.

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are self-renewing multipotent cells that have the capacity to secrete multiple biologic factors that can restore and repair injured tissues. Preclinical and clinical evidence have substantiated the therapeutic benefit of MSCs in various medical conditions. Currently, MSCs are the most commonly used cell-based therapy in clinical trials because of their regenerative effects, ease of isolation and low immunogenicity. Experimental and clinical studies have provided promising results using MSCs to treat diabetes. This review will summarize the role of MSCs on tissue repair, provide emerging strategies to improve MSC function and describe how these processes translate to clinical treatments for diabetes.

Keywords: diabetes; endocrine; mesenchymal stem cell; tissue regeneration.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Separation / methods
  • Cell Survival
  • Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy / methods
  • Diabetes Mellitus / therapy*
  • Fetal Blood / cytology
  • Genetic Therapy / methods
  • Humans
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation* / methods
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Regeneration
  • Transplantation, Homologous