Human Umbilical Cord Blood Cells and Diabetes Mellitus: Recent Advances

Title:Human Umbilical Cord Blood Cells and Diabetes Mellitus: Recent Advances

Volume: 10 Issue: 3

Author(s): Alluru S. Reddi, Neil Kothari, Kishore Kuppasani and Norman Ende

Affiliation:

Keywords: β-cells, clinical trials, diabetes mellitus, differentiation, human umbilical cord blood, stem cells, stem cell educator therapy.

Abstract: Stem cell therapy for patients with diabetes is an area of great interest to both scientists and clinicians. Human umbilical cord blood cells (HUCBCs) are being increasingly used as a source of stem cells for cell-based therapy for diabetes because these cells can differentiate into pancreatic islet β-cells. Administration of HUCBCs has been shown to lower blood glucose levels in diabetic animal models. The use of autologous HUCBC transfusion in type 1 diabetic children has not shown any benefit. However, “Stem Cell Educator” therapy has shown promise in long term lowering of blood glucose levels in both type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients. In this review, we will briefly discuss recent advances in HUCBC therapy in the treatment of diabetes and some of its complications.

Cite this article as:

Reddi S. Alluru, Kothari Neil, Kuppasani Kishore and Ende Norman, Human Umbilical Cord Blood Cells and Diabetes Mellitus: Recent Advances, Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy 2015; 10 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1574888X10666141212122421