Multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (MUSE) cells improve pancreatic islet transplantation in murine models of autoimmune diabetes

GIMENO ML; FUERTES F; ERDOCIA M; PERONE MJ

Boston

Conferencia; 9th Aquatic Models of Human Disease Conference (MBL); 2018

Marine Biological Laboratory

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a T cell mediated autoimmune disease in which there is insufficient β-cell mass to maintain normoglycemia. Transplantation of pancreatic islets is a clinical option in T1D patients suffering impaired awareness of hypoglycemia and severe hypoglycemic events. However, the need of multiple cadaveric donors, as well as the control of immune responses responsible for allogeneic-rejection have not been resolved yet. Several experimental studies demonstrated that transplanted islets have inadequate blood vessel density leading to a hypoxic and undernourished microenvironment that causes impaired function and gradual islet death.A particular population of pluripotent stem cells has been isolated from human adult dermal fibrobasts and bone marrow stromal cells, and has been termed Muse cells. We recently described the cellular and molecular characteristics of Muse cells derived from human subcutaneous adipose tissue (AT) lipoaspirates.Our general objective is to improve the outcome of allogeneic islets transplantation using Muse-AT cells at the site of engraftment. This therapeutic approach applied in murine models of autoimmune diabetes hightlights the promise of improving islets engraftment, reducing the number of donors and the risk of side effects.