China Achieves First-Ever Cure for Type 2 Diabetes
China Health Trip takes you through the latest medical breakthroughs in China, showcasing the possibilities of advanced healthcare. Read on for more insights.
In April 2024,a team led by Yin Hao from Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, in collaboration with Cheng Xin from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has achieved a world first in utilizing stem cell-derived autologous regenerative islet transplantation therapy. This breakthrough has successfully cured a patient with severe islet dysfunction caused by type 2 diabetes. The patient, who had a 25-year history of diabetes, has been insulin-free for 33 months, with results published in the international journal Cell Discovery.
Significance and challenges of diabetes treatment
Diabetes poses a serious threat to human health, with poorly controlled blood glucose leading to complications such as blindness, kidney failure, cardiovascular incidents, amputations, ketoacidosis, or severe hypoglycemia, which can be fatal. China has a significant diabetic population, with nearly 40 million patients requiring lifelong insulin injections.
For severe cases with uncontrolled blood sugar, transplantation is a treatment option. This involves extracting islet tissue from donated pancreases and performing minimally invasive injections to prevent complications. However, the severe shortage of donors and the complexity of isolating islets make it difficult to meet clinical needs.
Innovative approach and technological advancement
The central challenge has been the large-scale regeneration of human islet tissue outside the body. Director Yin Hao explains that after more than a dec——ade of research, the team has successfully reprogrammed peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the patient’s blood into autologous induced pluripotent stem cells. Using pioneering international techniques, these cells are transformed into “seed cells,” i.e., endoderm stem cells, eventually creating islet tissue ex vivo. This technique represents a significant breakthrough in regenerative medicine for diabetes treatment.
Clinical application and outcomes
The first beneficiary of this technology is a 59-year-old man with a 25-year history of type 2 diabetes, which had progressed to end-stage diabetic nephropathy. After a kidney transplant in 2017, his near-failing islet function required multiple daily insulin injections, posing a high risk of severe complications.
In 2021, concerned about hypoglycemia and the adverse effects of poor blood sugar control on the transplanted kidney, he underwent autologous regenerative islet transplantation at Shanghai Changzheng Hospital. By the 11th week post-operation, he had completely weaned off exogenous insulin. His oral hypoglycemic drugs were gradually reduced and discontinued entirely by the 48th and 56th weeks post-operation. Key indicators, such as fasting and postprandial C-peptide levels, significantly improved, confirming the effective restoration of islet function. Kidney function and follow-up indicators remained normal, suggesting the therapy also prevents diabetes complications.
Future directions
Chief scientist Cheng Xin, professor at the Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, initially established endoderm stem cells and their modified types in 2012. These cells exhibit specificity in directed differentiation and in vivo safety, making them ideal for large-scale regeneration of islets and liver tissue. Cheng’s team has since developed a scalable directed differentiation system for mass production.
In addition to the first severe type 2 diabetes patient, the team has also successfully treated several brittle type 1 diabetes patients. Professor Yin Hao states that future research will focus on stem cell-derived regenerative islet tissues, further developing universal regenerative islet tissues that do not require immunosuppression, offering a new cure for diabetes patients reliant on insulin injections.
China Achieves First-Ever Cure for Type 2 Diabetes
China Health Trip takes you through the latest medical breakthroughs in China, showcasing the possibilities of advanced healthcare. Read on for more insights.
In April 2024,a team led by Yin Hao from Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, in collaboration with Cheng Xin from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has achieved a world first in utilizing stem cell-derived autologous regenerative islet transplantation therapy. This breakthrough has successfully cured a patient with severe islet dysfunction caused by type 2 diabetes. The patient, who had a 25-year history of diabetes, has been insulin-free for 33 months, with results published in the international journal Cell Discovery.
Significance and challenges of diabetes treatment
Diabetes poses a serious threat to human health, with poorly controlled blood glucose leading to complications such as blindness, kidney failure, cardiovascular incidents, amputations, ketoacidosis, or severe hypoglycemia, which can be fatal. China has a significant diabetic population, with nearly 40 million patients requiring lifelong insulin injections.
For severe cases with uncontrolled blood sugar, transplantation is a treatment option. This involves extracting islet tissue from donated pancreases and performing minimally invasive injections to prevent complications. However, the severe shortage of donors and the complexity of isolating islets make it difficult to meet clinical needs.
Innovative approach and technological advancement
The central challenge has been the large-scale regeneration of human islet tissue outside the body. Director Yin Hao explains that after more than a dec——ade of research, the team has successfully reprogrammed peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the patient’s blood into autologous induced pluripotent stem cells. Using pioneering international techniques, these cells are transformed into “seed cells,” i.e., endoderm stem cells, eventually creating islet tissue ex vivo. This technique represents a significant breakthrough in regenerative medicine for diabetes treatment.
Clinical application and outcomes
The first beneficiary of this technology is a 59-year-old man with a 25-year history of type 2 diabetes, which had progressed to end-stage diabetic nephropathy. After a kidney transplant in 2017, his near-failing islet function required multiple daily insulin injections, posing a high risk of severe complications.
In 2021, concerned about hypoglycemia and the adverse effects of poor blood sugar control on the transplanted kidney, he underwent autologous regenerative islet transplantation at Shanghai Changzheng Hospital. By the 11th week post-operation, he had completely weaned off exogenous insulin. His oral hypoglycemic drugs were gradually reduced and discontinued entirely by the 48th and 56th weeks post-operation. Key indicators, such as fasting and postprandial C-peptide levels, significantly improved, confirming the effective restoration of islet function. Kidney function and follow-up indicators remained normal, suggesting the therapy also prevents diabetes complications.
Future directions
Chief scientist Cheng Xin, professor at the Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, initially established endoderm stem cells and their modified types in 2012. These cells exhibit specificity in directed differentiation and in vivo safety, making them ideal for large-scale regeneration of islets and liver tissue. Cheng’s team has since developed a scalable directed differentiation system for mass production.
In addition to the first severe type 2 diabetes patient, the team has also successfully treated several brittle type 1 diabetes patients. Professor Yin Hao states that future research will focus on stem cell-derived regenerative islet tissues, further developing universal regenerative islet tissues that do not require immunosuppression, offering a new cure for diabetes patients reliant on insulin injections.
