Cellular therapy in diabetes type 1 - will it be possible?

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes is results from the irreversible damage of the pancreatic beta cells which leads to disturbance and even to total termination of insulin production. Despite enormous progress in the treatment of type 1 diabetes still most of the patients develop late diabetic complications. Because of that, type 1 diabetes is one of targets of the cellular therapy. Nowadays, in vitro culture of differentiated beta cells continues to be at the scientific research level. However several studies indicate that in the future it would be possible to culture pancreatic insulin-producing beta cells which would be sensitive to glucose level in blood and which would be possible to be injected to type 1 diabetic patients with. Success of such treatment will depend however on many factors, including safe protocols to culture beta cells. Additionally, it would also be important to make sure that immunological response against cells will not appear and that such cells will maintain their biological features.