IN A GROUNDBREAKING medical achievement, a 25-year-old woman with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) in China has successfully undergone a stem-cell therapy that enabled her to produce her own insulin, reducing her reliance on injections. The woman was treated with stem-cell-derived islet cells developed from her own fat cells, which were injected into her abdomen. This experimental treatment has allowed her to remain insulin-free for over a year since the procedure, researchers announced.
The trial, conducted at Tianjin First Central Hospital, China converted the woman’s fat cells into pluripotent stem cells, capable of developing into various cell types. Researchers used these cells to generate insulin-producing islet cells, which were then transplanted into her abdominal tissue. The cells engrafted successfully, creating their own vasculature, and enabled the patient to produce sufficient insulin independently. Within 75 days, she no longer needed insulin injections, with blood glucose levels consistently within a healthy range.
Researchers noted the remarkable impact of this therapy on the woman’s long-term glucose levels, with significant improvements in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) showing sustained non-diabetic glucose levels. “The trial is ongoing and will follow three patients over at least two years,” he said, adding that the two other participants in the trial are also showing promising signs.
This is the first known case in which a patient with T1D has maintained insulin production through stem-cell therapy over an extended period. T1D is an autoimmune condition that results in the immune system attacking the pancreas’ islet cells, making insulin production nearly impossible.
The development has drawn global attention. Experts in the field of diabetes treatment have called the study “incredible,” noting that using patients’ own cells could eliminate the need for long-term anti-rejection medication. Other stem-cell trials are ongoing, further exploring the treatment’s potential.
Researchers hope that, with further trials, stem-cell therapy may soon become a viable option for millions suffering from T1D globally.
Victoria Antoniou, EMJ
Reference
Wang S et al. Transplantation of chemically induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived islets under abdominal anterior rectus sheath in a type 1 diabetes patient. Cell. 2024;187(22):6152-64.e18.
