Abstract
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease that causes the deficit of pancreatic islet β cells. A true cure has proven elusive despite intensive research pressure by using conventional approaches over the past 25 years. The situation highlights the challenges we face in conquering this disease. Alternative approaches are needed. Increasing evidence demonstrates that stem cells possess the function of immune modulation. We established the Stem Cell Educator therapy by using cord blood-derived multipotent stem cells (CB-SCs). A closed-loop system that circulates a patient’s blood through a blood cell separator, briefly co-cultures the patient’s lymphocytes with adherent CB-SCs in vitro, and returns the educated lymphocytes (but not the CB-SCs) to the patient’s circulation. Our clinical trial reveals that a single treatment with the Stem Cell Educator provides lasting reversal of autoimmunity that allows regeneration of islet β cells and improvement of metabolic control in subjects with long-standing T1D.
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Abbreviations
- Aire:
-
autoimmune regulator
- CB-SCs:
-
cord blood-derived multipotent stem cells
- DCs:
-
dendritic cells
- HLA:
-
human leukocyte antigen
- HSCs:
-
hematopoietic stem cells
- MSCs:
-
mesenchymal stem cells
- NK:
-
natural killer cells
- NO:
-
nitric oxide
- PB-IPC:
-
peripheral blood-derived insulin-producing cells
- PD-L1:
-
programmed death ligand 1
- TGF-β1:
-
transforming growth factor-β1
- T1D:
-
type 1 diabetes
- Tregs:
-
regulatory T cells
- TLR 3:
-
Toll-like receptor 3
- TLR 4:
-
Toll-like receptor 4
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Acknowledgments
Supported by grants from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, the American Diabetes Association, and China Jinan 5150 Program for Oversea Scholar.
Disclosure
Conflicts of interest: Y. Zhao: is employed by, is the Chairman of the Board for, and has stock/stock options for Tianhe Stem Cell Biotechnologies Inc.; is the inventor for Stem Cell Educator therapy and related technologies at the University of Illinois at Chicago;
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Zhao, Y. Stem Cell Educator Therapy and Induction of Immune Balance. Curr Diab Rep 12, 517–523 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-012-0308-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-012-0308-1