Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Therapy Shows Promise in Type 2 Diabetes Management, Study Finds
Malaysia: A recent retrospective study published in Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity sheds light on the promising role of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) as a novel therapeutic approach in managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The research, conducted by Dr. Sze-Piaw Chin and colleagues from Cytopeutics Sdn Bhd, Cyberjaya, Malaysia, aimed to evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of intravenous allogeneic UC-MSCs infusion in individuals diagnosed with T2DM.
T2DM is a complex metabolic disorder characterized by persistent insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and chronic low-grade systemic inflammation. These pathophysiological features often contribute to progressive multi-organ complications, including liver dysfunction, kidney impairment, and hormonal imbalances. While conventional antidiabetic medications focus on blood glucose control, emerging interest in regenerative medicine is paving the way for cell-based therapies that target the underlying disease mechanisms.
The study analyzed data from Cytopeutics’ registry, including 218 patients who completed six months of follow-up and 83 patients who were followed for up to twelve months after receiving intravenous infusions of 50 to 100 million allogeneic UC-MSCs. Researchers assessed a wide spectrum of clinical indicators such as glycemic parameters (HbA1c, insulin, HOMA-IR), inflammatory markers (hs-CRP), liver enzymes (ALT, GGT), kidney function (eGFR, creatinine), and sex hormone levels (testosterone in males, estradiol in females).
Key findings from the study include:
- The treatment was found to be safe and well-tolerated across all patients, with no adverse effects reported throughout the follow-up period.
- Glycemic control improved substantially, with significant reductions in hemoglobin A1c levels at six months and twelve months.
- Insulin levels and HOMA-IR values declined, reflecting improved insulin sensitivity.
- Reductions in ALT and GGT levels indicated a notable decrease in liver inflammation.
- Patients with elevated hs-CRP levels experienced marked improvements, particularly evident at the 12-month follow-up, suggesting reduced systemic inflammation.
- Hormonal assessments showed increased testosterone levels in men and elevated estradiol in women, supporting better metabolic and endocrine balance.
- Improvements in kidney function were observed in patients with early-stage chronic kidney disease, with increased eGFR and decreased serum creatinine levels.
The authors concluded that UC-MSCs infusion holds substantial therapeutic potential in T2DM management, addressing hyperglycemia and related systemic inflammation, liver dysfunction, hormonal imbalances, and early kidney impairment. They advocate for further large-scale, randomized controlled trials to validate these encouraging results and explore the long-term benefits of this regenerative strategy.
"The study adds to the growing interest in stem cell-based interventions as adjunctive therapies in diabetes care, potentially transforming clinical outcomes for millions living with T2DM," the authors wrote.
Reference:
Chin SP, Kee LT, Mohd MA, Then KY. Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Infusion in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients: A Retrospective Cytopeutics’ Registry Study. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2025;18:1643-1659 https://doi.org/10.2147/DMSO.S507801
