Abstract:
Introduction: Type 1diabetes mellitus (T1DM) remains one of the main public healthcare problems
worldwide with a tendency to steady growth. T1DM leads to kidney failure, blindness, heart attacks and
strokes, which account for high rates of morbidity and mortality among patients with T1DM. A replacement
of beta cells is the goal of therapy for T1DM. Recent clinical studies have shown a promising stem
cell role in the treatment of T1DM. We evaluated the therapeutic effect of autologous mesenchymal stem
cell transplantation (AMSCT) on carbohydrate metabolism markers in T1DM patients.
Methods: We examined 7 patients (5 male, 2female, aged 20-42) with T1DM, who underwent AMSCT
(cells were obtained from the patients’ iliac crest and cultivated for 3-4 weeks) by intravenous infusion.
The quantity of autologous mesenchymal stem cells infused was from 95 to 97 × 106. We analyzed the
daily insulin dosages, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibody and
Langerhans antibody levels in patients before, 1, 2and 3 months after the AMSCT procedure.
Results: In patients with T1DM, AMSCT led to decrease in daily insulin dosage levels from 58,81±
13,71Units to 47,5± 12,7 Units (p=0,04) with trend to increase leptin levels and decrease HbA1c levels,
from 7,73 + 3.5 ng/ml to 16,9 ± 8,31ng/ml (p= 0,046) and 9,59±1,73% to 8,65±0,93 % (p = 0,092) after
1month, respectively. GAD antibody and Langerhans antibody levels didn’t change significantly after AMSCT:
from 10,79 + 4,52IU/ml to 12,33 ± 3,81IU/ml (p> 0,05) and 14,12+4,26 IU/mL to 18,17+9,03 IU/mL
(р=0,485) after 3 months, respectively.
Conclusions: The AMSCT led to decrease of the daily insulin dosage levels with increase of the leptin
levels after 1month without increasing of the GAD and Langerhans antibody levels within 3 months in
patients with T1DM.