Innovative cell transplant advancement A Research breakthrough by Chinese doctors for diabetes management

Abstract

This study presents a groundbreaking advancement in diabetes treatment achieved by Chinese scientists through an innovative cell transplant technique. Traditional diabetes management, typically involving regular insulin injections and constant monitoring, imposes a significant burden on patients. However, this new therapy promises to revolutionize diabetes care. A team of researchers from Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, the Centre for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Renji Hospital successfully cured a 59-year-old patient with type-2 diabetes using cell therapy. The patient, whose blood sugar levels remained uncontrolled despite regular insulin injections, underwent a cell transplant in July 2021. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the patient were reprogrammed into "seed cells" that act like pancreatic islet cells and then implanted. Within eleven weeks, the patient no longer required insulin injections, and after a year, he stopped all diabetes-related medications. Follow-up examinations confirmed the restoration of pancreatic islet function, and the patient has been insulin-free for 33 months, highlighting the long-term efficacy of the treatment. This therapy harnesses the body's regenerative capabilities, marking a significant milestone in regenerative medicine. The innovative approach not only cures the patient but also offers the potential for preventing diabetes. With China facing a substantial healthcare burden due to its high diabetes prevalence, this technique could significantly alleviate the burden by reducing dependency on lifelong insulin injections.