Transplantation of Autologous Stem Cells for the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Patients with T1DM depend on administration of exogenous insulin for survival and for control of long-term complications. The best-established treatment is constricted control of blood glucose accomplished by regular daily injections or constant subcutaneous infusion of insulin as intensive insulin therapy. Although insulin therapy has advanced immensely, even the most modern technologies do not allow the maintenance of normal glucose levels.

This is a prospective pilot study intended to treat patients with T1DM after at least one year of confirmed diagnosis. This study encompasses a two-arm approach; the first arm is composed of clinical-grade purification of autologous, leukapheresis-derived, Cluster of differentiation 34+ and 133+ stem cells (accomplished by utilisation of CliniMACS System and approved clinical-grade Microbeads and accessories), and transplantation of the purified ell populations into pancreatic artery and capillaries via interventional radiology techniques; while the second arm aims at halting the immune attack on pancreatic β-cells through immunomodulation, and is composed of incubation of patient's leukapheresis with cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells for 3-6 hours, and return of the patient's own white blood cells back into the patient via intravenous injection. Patients are first mobilised with 10 ug/Kg Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor (GCSF) for five day, and then Mononuclear Cells are collected from the patient via leukapheresis.

Inclusion criteria

• Confirmed Type 1 diabetes mellitus diagnosed for at least 12 months prior to execution of this protocol.

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy
• Severe psychiatric disorder
• Severe organic impairment (renal, hepatic, cardiac, pulmonary)
• Active infectious disease
• Previous or present neoplastic disease
• Any serious complications due to poor control of diabetes, including: lower limb ischemia, kidney failure, liver failure, vision impairment, peripheral neuropathies, poor circulation.