Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplant in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

OBJECTIVES

Our goal was to determine the efficacy of autologous mesenchymal stem cell transplant for treatment in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We examined 5 patients (4 male, 1 female; age 20-42 y) with type 1 diabetes mellitus who received autologous mesenchymal stem cell transplant (cells were obtained from the patient's iliac crest and cultured for 3-4 weeks) performed by intravenous infusion. The quantity of autologous mesenchymal stem cells infused was 95 to 97 × 106. We analyzed daily insulin dosages and leptin and glycated hemoglobin levels in patients before and 1, 2, and 3 months after their autologous mesenchymal stem cell transplant procedure.

RESULTS

In patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, autologous mesenchymal stem cell transplant led to a decrease in daily insulin dosage levels, from 63 ± 8.83 to 50.2 ± 12.1 U (P = .064) after 1 month, with significantly increased leptin levels and trend to decreased glycated hemoglobin levels, from 6.86 to 10.77 ng/mL (P = .016) and 9.11% to 8.74% (P = .84) after 3 months, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Daily insulin dosage level decreased within 1 month and leptin levels increased significantly within 3 months after autologous mesenchymal stem cell transplant in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.