Therapeutic potential of umbilical cord blood cells for type 1 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic disorder that results from autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic islet β-cells. However, to date, no conventional intervention has successfully treated the disease. The optimal therapeutic method for T1DM should effectively control the autoimmunity, restore immune homeostasis, preserve residual β-cells, reverse β-cell destruction, and protect the regenerated insulin-producing cells against re-attack. Umbilical cord blood is rich in regulatory T (T(reg)) cells and multiple types of stem cells that exhibit immunomodulating potential and hold promise in their ability to restore peripheral tolerance towards pancreatic islet β-cells through remodeling of immune responses and suppression of autoreactive T cells. Recently, reinfusion of autologous umbilical cord blood or immune cells from cord blood has been proposed as a novel therapy for T1DM, with the advantages of no risk to the donors, minimal ethical concerns, a low incidence of graft-versus-host disease and easy accessibility. In this review, we revisit the role of autologous umbilical cord blood or immune cells from cord blood-based applications for the treatment of T1DM.

Revisiting multiple models of progression of β‐cell loss of function in type 1 diabetes: Significance for prevention and cure

“…However, it is notable that cell‐based therapies aiming to replace β‐cells or targeting immune cells to restore immune balance have now been proposed as novel strategies and achieved beneficial effects. Clinical trials on regulatory T (T reg ) cells, hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and cord blood‐derived multipotent stem cells have revealed their disease‐modulating efficiency, with the outcomes suggesting that infusion of T reg cells or stem cells could prolong clinical remission or delay the development of T1D. In addition, it has been reported that adult fibroblasts generated from T1D patients can be reprogrammed with three transcription factors and transformed into T1D‐specific induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells that can be differentiated into insulin‐producing cells .…”

Exosomes Derived from Human Endothelial Progenitor Cells Accelerate Cutaneous Wound Healing by Promoting Angiogenesis Through Erk1/2 Signaling

“…Then the EPC-Exos was applied to repair diabetic chronic wounds. UCB can be collected during labor, with the distinct advantages of no risk to the donors, minimal ethical concerns, a low incidence of graft-versus-host disease and easy accessibility 22. UCB-derived MSCs have already been transplanted to improve islet function in patients with T2D 23.…”

Exosomes from human umbilical cord blood accelerate cutaneous wound healing through miR-21-3p-mediated promotion of angiogenesis and fibroblast function

“…Over the past few years, stem cells have emerged as powerful tools to improve skin wound healing. Human umbilical cord blood (UCB) is an attractive source of transplantable stem cells for wound repair, and posesses several distinct advantages of no risk to donors, easy accessibility, and a low incidence of graft-versus-host disease 5 , 6 . However, the direct use of stem cells for therapeutic purposes remains limited by many risk factors such as tumor formation, thrombosis, and unwanted immune responses 7 - 9 .…”