Bone marrow-derived cell therapy may reduce the risk of long-term complications in type 2 diabetes

A new regenerative medicine approach in diabetes treatment

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) continues to increase worldwide, making it crucial to not only control blood sugar levels but also prevent chronic complications such as cardiovascular disease and neuropathy

In recent years, the anti-inflammatory and tissue-repairing effects of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have attracted attention in the field of regenerative medicine, and long-term therapeutic effects are expected in diabetic patients

This study investigated the long-term effectiveness of cell therapy using a combination of MSCs and bone marrow mononuclear cells (MCs)

An 8-year long-term follow-up study

This study compared three groups of patients with type 2 diabetes: one group received standard treatment plus combination therapy with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and mesenchymal carcinoma (MCs), one group received MCs alone, and one group received standard treatment only

As a result, patients who received combination therapy with MSC and MC not only showed improvement in glycemic metabolic function, but also demonstrated a decrease in the incidence of diabetes-related complications throughout the 8-year follow-up period

In particular, the incidence of macrovascular complications was significantly lower compared to the standard treatment group, and the incidence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy was also significantly suppressed. Macrovascular complications include diseases that directly affect life expectancy, such as myocardial infarction and stroke, and a reduction in the risk of developing these diseases may lead to improvements in healthy life expectancy and long-term prognosis

Potential effects of stem cell therapy on vascular aging

As we age, chronic inflammation and a decline in endothelial function progress in blood vessels, increasing the risk of arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Diabetes is known to further accelerate this vascular aging

In addition to anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, MSCs have been reported to potentially promote the repair of vascular tissue. The reduction in the risk of macrovascular complications shown in this study may reflect a systemic protective effect that goes beyond mere improvement in blood glucose control

Potential for longevity medicine

In diabetic patients, macrovascular complications such as myocardial infarction and stroke are known to have a significant impact on their prognosis

This study demonstrated that regenerative medicine using MSCs may extend beyond diabetes management to contribute to reducing the risk of age-related vascular damage and cardiovascular events. This is an interesting finding that suggests stem cell therapy may have a protective effect against age-related decline in vascular function. In particular, the confirmation of a reduction in the incidence of macrovascular complications over a long-term follow-up period of eight years suggests that stem cell therapy is a treatment strategy that deserves attention from the perspective of extending healthy life expectancy and longevity medicine

Furthermore, the observation that intravenous administration of stem cells reduced the risk of complications over a long period suggests that regenerative medicine may play an important role not only in diabetes management but also in longevity medicine aimed at extending healthy life expectancy

Original information