Therapeutic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells or their Secretome in Diabetic Mice with or without Preconditioning Treatment.

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease with difficult management, affecting the quality of life. Stem cell therapy has been proven to have regenerative ability. Using the existing stem cell therapy and modifying it, the current study aims to evaluate the effect of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSC), condition media (CM), and UCMSC and CM preconditioned with methotrexate, reservetrol, and vitamin D for its ability to manage T1DM in Swiss albino mice.

Materials & methods: Disease condition was established in the animals by using a diabetesinducing agent streptozotocin (STZ). Then the animals were grouped into normal control, disease control, standard, and test groups; and the treatments were given accordingly. The total study period for this experiment was 28 days. During this period, the animals were supervised for blood glucose levels, food-water intake, and body weight twice a week. At the end of 28 days, the biochemical estimations for serum insulin level, C-peptide, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and anti-inflammatory cytokines level were done. Also, histopathology of the pancreas was performed.

Results: The test groups showed a significant decline in the blood glucose level, an increase in C-peptide level, and a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines as compared to the disease group. A statistically significant change was not observed within the groups in terms of serum insulin and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels. There were improvements in diabetic symptoms in treatment groups, such as polyphagia, polydipsia, and weight loss. Treatment groups also showed pancreatic regeneration, indicating improved insulin secretion.

Conclusion: In the present study, we concluded that UCMSC, CM, and UCMSC and CM preconditioned with synthetic and natural immunosuppressants and immunomodulators have the ability to regenerate damaged pancreatic beta cells and have an antidiabetic activity, along with an immunomodulating effect. This therapy is a promising choice for future research.