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Regulatory T cells: Therapeutic Potential for Treating Transplant Rejection and Type I Diabetes
Published on: August 20, 2007
Diabetes current and future translatable therapies
Fabio Antonio Gonzalez-Sanchez1, Triana Mayra Sanchez-Huerta1, Alexandra Huerta-Gonzalez1
1Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias, Departamento de Bioingeniería y Biotecnología, Av. General Ramon Corona No 2514, Colonia Nuevo Mexico, CP 45201, Zapopan, Jalisco, México.
Abstract:
Diabetes is one of the major diseases and concerns of public health systems that affects over 200 million patients worldwide. It is estimated that 90% of these patients suffer from diabetes type 2, while 10% present diabetes type 1. This type of diabetes and certain types of diabetes type 2, are characterized by dysregulation of blood glycemic levels due to the total or partial depletion of insulin-secreting pancreatic β-cells. Different approaches have been proposed for long-term treatment of insulin-dependent patients; amongst them, cell-based approaches have been the subject of basic and clinical research since they allow blood glucose level sensing and in situ insulin secretion. The current gold standard for insulin-dependent patients is on-demand exogenous insulin application; cell-based therapies aim to remove this burden from the patient and caregivers. In recent years, protocols to isolate and implant pancreatic islets from diseased donors have been developed and tested in clinical trials. Nevertheless, the shortage of donors, along with the need of immunosuppressive companion therapies, have pushed researchers to focus their attention and efforts to overcome these disadvantages and develop alternative strategies. This review discusses current tested clinical approaches and future potential alternatives for diabetes type 1, and some diabetes type 2, insulin-dependent patients. Additionally, advantages and disadvantages of these discussed methods.
Insights
Diabetes treatments are evolving beyond insulin injections. Cell-based therapies offer potential for glucose-sensing, in situ insulin secretion, aiming to improve life for type 1 diabetes patients and some type 2 diabetes patients.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Regenerative Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus affects over 200 million globally, with type 1 and some type 2 cases involving pancreatic beta-cell depletion and glycemic dysregulation.
- Current standard care for insulin-dependent diabetes involves exogenous insulin, posing a significant burden on patients and caregivers.
- Cell-based therapies are being researched as a potential alternative to exogenous insulin, offering in situ glucose sensing and insulin secretion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current clinical approaches for treating insulin-dependent diabetes (type 1 and some type 2).
- To explore future potential alternative strategies to cell-based therapies for diabetes management.
- To discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various discussed treatment methods.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing clinical trials and research on cell-based therapies for diabetes.
- Analysis of donor islet isolation and implantation protocols.
- Exploration of alternative strategies to overcome donor shortage and immunosuppression.
Main Results:
- Pancreatic islet transplantation has been tested clinically but faces challenges with donor availability and immunosuppression.
- Cell-based therapies aim to provide a more autonomous system for glucose control and insulin delivery.
- Ongoing research focuses on overcoming limitations of current cell-based approaches.
Conclusions:
- Cell-based therapies represent a promising avenue for managing insulin-dependent diabetes, potentially eliminating the need for exogenous insulin.
- Addressing donor scarcity and immunosuppression are critical for the clinical success of cell-based diabetes treatments.
- Further research and development are essential to realize the full potential of these advanced therapeutic strategies.
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