There is a growing interest in the therapeutic potential of cord blood to modulate the autoimmune disease . Type 1 diabetes, also called juvenile diabetes is an autoimmune disease resulting in the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Dr. Michael Haller, an assistant professor of pediatric endocrinology at the University of Florida, is currently conducting a second clinical trial to determine whether autologous cord blood stem cell transfusions
improve glycemic control in children with type 1 diabetes by restoring immune tolerance.
The first trial of Dr. Haller followed a simple protocol of an intravenous infusion of autologous cord blood in newly diagnosed patients with type 1 diabetes There were no other treatments drug and patients continued their intensive treatment of diabetes. These patients were followed for 2 years to measure the amount of insulin they made themselves and to assess the levels of sugar in the blood and the function of key immune system cells. Preliminary data from this trial suggested
than patients who received their own cord blood needed much less insulin during the first 6 months of the trial. In addition, a slight increase in the number of key immune cells was detected during this period 1. A total of 23 children received autologous cord blood in this study and the therapy has been proven to be 100% sure.
Dr. Haller is currently conducting a second trial to determine whether a single intravenous infusion of autologous cord blood followed by 1 year of daily vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation can preserve beta cell function, and therefore insulin production in children with type 1 diabetes vitamin D appears to play an important role in promoting healthy immune responses, while omega-3 fatty acids may play an important role in preserving beta-cell function through their anti-inflammatory actions. This study, which began in March 2009, will enroll 15 children with recent onset of diabetes type 1 and available autologous cord blood. Ten children will receive a combination of intensive insulin therapy, the cord blood infusion daily supplements while the other 5 will receive intensive therapy with insulin alone. The estimated completion date of the primary for this study is March 20122.
To date, five of Insception Lifebank customers have participated in clinical trials conducted by Dr. Haller. Although current data suggest that only the cord blood infusions can not cure type 1 diabetes, it is expected that further studies will determine how to improve cord blood-based therapy for diabetes. Hopefully the knowledge gained by these ground breaking studies will be applicable to the use of cord blood as a treatment for other autoimmune diseases, such as
multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease.
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1 Haller MJ et al Exp Hematol. 2008 June; 36 (6): 710-5
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00873925?term=cord+blood+diabetes&rank=1[194590032]