Mesenchymal Stem Cells transplantation

Research on Stem Cells in Treatment of Diabetes

By Pablo de Moraes

Recent discoveries and studies are successful doing science world eyes return to Brazil. It is a team of scientists from the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, has achieved outstanding results in research with stem and due to the success were highlighted in major journals worldwide, including the Jama (Journal of the American Medical Association).

The news was presented recently during a talk at the State Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology Luiz Capriglione (IEDE), In Rio de Janeiro, made by Eduardo Couri, A leader of the research.

Hematopoietic Stem

One of the protocols presented was the "Autologous Transplantation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells in Patients with Newly Diagnosed DM1. According to Dr. Eduardo Couri, is initially made a collection of stem cells Hematopoietic and then they are frozen. After two weeks, it is the severe immunosuppression in order to completely destroy immune "Defective" the person with diabetes.

"It's like a shutdown of the immune system with chemotherapy in a hospital environment, using drugs such as cyclophosphamide and antithymocyte globulin intravenous for five days," says the doctor.

According to him, then the immune system is "reconnected" with the use of hematopoietic stem cells from the patient. Occurs what we call 'reset immune', causing the immune system to stop attacking pancreatic beta-cells. Thus, the remaining beta cells, which have not been destroyed, tend to produce insulin properly again, "he said. "This is why we only work with people in the onset of diabetes, aged between 12 and 35 years, with less than six weeks of diagnosis," he adds.

The method showed excellent results: the 23 people who participated in the process, 20 stopped using insulin at some point, and 12 remained continuously free and 8 temporarily. "They are not cured, but controlled and free insulin. They have done a Alimentary Education and currently monitor the glucose and daily practice physical activities constantly, "says the doctor.

Mesenchymal Stem

The second protocol was presented which uses infusion of mesenchymal stem cells, taken from the bone marrow of a first-degree relative of the patient. According to Dr. Eduardo Couri, in animal studies, these cells showed the ability to block the phenomenon of autoimmunity and promote the regeneration of beta cells, reversing the Type 1 diabetes.

The treatment is as follows: the donor, which can only be a first-degree relative, receive general anesthesia for the collection of bone marrow cells. Then, the mesenchymal cells are proliferating in the laboratory. Subsequently, the patient receives consecutive intravenous infusions of these cells. According to Dr. Eduardo Couri, infusions are simple, not involving prolonged hospitalization. Once deployed, they migrate to the inflamed tissue (in case the pancreas) and settle there.

This procedure is being done only in people aged 12 to 35 yearsWith less than four weeks of diabetes. "In that first moment, we are working with newly diagnosed diabetes, but we will soon, depending on the results, carry it in people with long-term, which is the majority," said the doctor.

To date, three patients participated. Of these, one of them managed to be free of insulin, however, the diabetes is uncontrolled. "We are in the research phase of thinking more than acting, we must agree doses, assess risks, and then begin treatment for those with diabetes for longer," he says.

Pioneering

According to Dr. Eduardo Couri, other research has been conducted around the world, but the group of Ribeirão Preto is a pioneer, the greatest number of patients included and the greatest return. A major limitation, however, is the high cost of procedures, since the methods require the-art laboratories and personnel types within.

For the president of SBEM and director of IEDE, Dr. Ricardo Meirelles, the studies are extremely important to improve the lives of patients with diabetes. "In recent years we have had many advances in the treatment, but certainly the recovery of pancreatic cells, or at least preserve them, is the best way you can prevent diabetes continues to evolve and, therefore, appears to be one of the most promising treatment in time, "he said. "It's a matter of pride for Brazil," he adds.