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.
