Stem cells for the cell and molecular therapy of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D): the gap between dream and reality.

Abstract

In spite of intense research, over the past 2-3 decades, targeted to validating methods for the cure of T1D, based on cell substitution therapy in the place of exogenously administered insulin injections, achievement of the final goal continues to remain out of reach. In fact, aside of very limited clinical success of the few clinical trials of pancreatic islet cell transplantation in totally immunosuppressed patients with T1D, the vast majority of these diabetic patients invariably is insulin-dependent. New advances for cell and molecular therapy for T1D, including use of stem cells, are reviewed and discussed in an attempt to clearly establish where we are and where are we may go for the final cure for T1DM.