Infusion of mesenchymal stem cells in insulin resistant and diabetic animals

• Grant number: 10/50407-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2010
• End date: May 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Ângela Merice de Oliveira Leal
• Grantee: Ângela Merice de Oliveira Leal
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) is associated with insulin resistance and secretory dysfunction of the ß-cells. Most diabetic patients do not attain metabolic control and develop chronic complications in spite of all the treatments available. It is necessary to develop new strategies to treat DM2. The interest in regenerative therapeutics and cellular therapy for DM2 is motivated by the importance of preserving ß-cell mass and function. The utilization of stem cells is interesting because of limitations of other methods to supply ß-cells, islets or pancreas transplantation. There are now experimental, epidemiological and clinical evidences suggesting the involvement of immune system and inflammatory mediators in the pathogenesis of DM2. The mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are important source for cell therapy because of its easy isolation, expansion and modulator effects. The objective of this project is to evaluate the effects of MSC infusion in experimental models of insulin resistance and diabetes in mice and rats. (AU)