The combination therapy could decrease type 2 diabetes morbidity and mortality, said the authors, who published their study results in a recent issue of Cell Transplantation (Vol. 17 No.12).
"Autologous stem cell therapies are an emerging set of therapies with promising results and low side effects profiles," said corresponding co-author Esteban Estrada, MD, of Stem Cell Argentina.
"In addition, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, used primarily in the treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning, air embolism suffered by divers, and as an enhancement to wound healing, has been shown to increase stem cell mobilization and the release of endothelial progenitor cells via a nitric oxide-dependent mechanism."
The clinical trial evaluated the safety of ASC-HBO combination treatment in 25 patients with type 2 diabetes.
According to the researchers, it is well known that with type 2 diabetes, there is an ongoing inflammation of the pancreas. Their hypothesis suggested that mobilizing stem cells would cause the growth of blood vessels (angiogenesis) and release factors that would result in the local differentiation of progenitor cells with a resulting anti-inflammatory effect. Diabetes, they added, has been shown to impair progenitor cell mobilization, a problem that local stem cell infusion could remedy.Once more, the effect of the hyperbaric oxygen therapy, they hypothesized, would be to increase stem cell mobilization in such a way as "to target more than one crucial reparative step" to counteract the chronic injury that attack the endothelial progenitor cells and the islet cells.
"Overall, our results show that a close follow-up with intensive diabetic management alone could not be the only cause of the positive, progressive and consistent outcomes we obtained in this trial over one year of follow-up," said Dr. Estrada.
"A decade ago, research had explored stem cell transplantation and hyperbaric oxygen therapy as stand alone treatments. This study highlights the potential benefits of using an unusual combination therapy to treat diabetes" said Dr. Cesar V Borlongan, Associate Editor of Cell Transplantation and Professor at the University of South Florida College of Medicine.
References
Estrada, Esteban J.; Valacchi, Fabian; Nicora, Eduardo; Brieva, Sergio; Esteve, Claudio; Echevarria, Laura; Froud, Tatiana; Bernetti, Karina; Cayetano, Shari Messinger; Velazquez, Omaida; Alejandro, Rodolfo; Ricordi, Camillo. Combined Treatment of Intrapancreatic Autologous Bone Marrow Stem Cells and Hyperbaric Oxygen in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Cell Transplantation 2008; 17 (12): 1295-1304.
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2 comments:
Very interesting post - thanks. I have two questions.
1) other than cost issues (which, granted, may be significant), what do you believe may be the risk factors a Type II diabetic would need to consider prior to proceeding to explore this option?
2) Silly question, but could you briefly please remind me why these therapies are only targetted at Type I and not Type II diabetics?
Thanks,
Stefan
Costs are not really an issue here. Collection of OWN Stem Cells is relatively cheap. The treatment procedure is an angiogram (same procedure using a catheter going up to the heart to do a balloon) that goes to the vessels around pancreas where the stem cells are injected. That will be the extra cost and also the source of the risks possibly associated with this procedure that per se has nothing to do with the stem cells. Risks in angiograms are virtually non existent in an experienced radiologists hands! total costs have to be compared as Quality of Life increase and lower disease and complication treatment costs during a lifetime. Those things have not been looked at but certainly taking 3-4 insulin shots a day and STILL NOT been regulated, means complications in the future from all organ systems as it is usual for diabetics. Similar to our Diabetic Ulcer study at THAI StemLife in Thailand, we see that costs are minimal compared to loss of a limb!
ONE SHOULD NOT FORGET though that Type 2 Diabetes is much a LIFESTYLE disease that WILL relapse if one doesn't change habits even after stem cell implantation!
Please accept my correction but this study was done in 17 make and 8 female TYPE 2 Diabetes (age 55 ± 2.14 years, diabetes duration 13.2 ± 1.62 years), not type 1 as usual.
The reason that scientists otherwise as you correct point out focus on type 1 is that type 1 is an AUTOIMMUNE disease, meaning that our own body produces ANTIBODIES that destroy the pancreas. If this process can be slowed or reversed then the Diabetes is GONE in contrast to type 2 where if the patient still continues their unhealthy lifestyle, the disease will relapse. Two studies in type 1, one with OWN bone marrow stem cells and one with OWN cord blood stem cells have shown EXCITING and FAVORABLE results with 14 out of 15 patients getting insulin independent for around 3 years (study follow up).
Stay tuned as more is to come.
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