Type 1 Diabetes Treated With Cord Blood Stem Cells
A new study has proven that cord blood stem cells can help to ‘re-educate’ the t-cells in diabetes patients’ immune systems, allowing their pancreases to begin producing insulin. As a result of this cord blood therapy, patients are able to reduce the amount of insulin they are required to inject on a regular basis.
The study was carried out at the University of Illinois by Dr. Yong Zhao. Researchers on his team developed a procedure called “stem cell educator therapy”, which separates their immune cells from the rest of the blood. During this time, the cells are co-cultured with cord blood stem cells for a number of hours. They are then returned to the patient’s blood stream after having been ‘re-educated’.
Fifteen patients aged 15 to 49 took part in the study. Six of the patients, who had moderate type 1 diabetes, were able to lower their insulin dosage by 38% 12 weeks after the treatment. Six of the patients, who had severe type 1 diabetes, were able to reduce their insulin dosage by 25%. The three remaining patients, the controls, underwent a placebo treatment.
These are remarkable findings, encouraging for researchers who are currently working on ways to use cord blood stem cells to treat diabetes. The study also offers hope for those currently suffering from type 1 diabetes.