Leptin Levels in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus After Fetal Pancreatic Stem Cell Transplant.

Abstract

Our objective was to determine leptin levels in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus after fetal pancreatic stem cell transplant. Seven patients, aged 20 to 42 years, with type 1 diabetes mellitus received a fetal pancreatic stem cell transplant by intravenous infusion. The quantity of fetal stem cells infused was ≥ 5 × 10⁶, and the cells were of 12 to 14 weeks of gestation. We analyzed the levels of leptin, C-peptide, and antibodies to the islets of Langerhans before and 3 months after the transplant procedure. Fetal pancreatic stem cell transplant led to significant increases in leptin and C-peptide levels, from 4.63 ± 1.17 ng/mL and 0.09 ± 0.02 ng/mL to 7.71 ± 1.45 ng/mL (P < .05) and 0.22 ± 0.05 ng/mL (P < .005), respectively, without an increase in antibodies to the islets of Langerhans, which measured 0.64 ± 0.13 U/mL before transplant and 0.57 ± 0.18 U/mL 3 months later (P > .05). Leptin levels increase significantly within 3 months of fetal pancreatic stem cell transplant in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.