Pathfinder Cells Demonstrate Ability to Regenerate Damaged Tissue and Restore Pancreatic Function in a Diabetic Mouse Model

A unique cell-based therapy is able to completely reverse diabetes in a mouse model.

“Though preliminary, the robustness of these results is very encouraging,” stated Paul G. Shiels, Ph.D., University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom. “With only two treatments with PCs, just days after induction of diabetes, we were able to quickly regenerate critically damaged pancreatic tissue, restoring and maintaining normal glucose levels and healthy body weight. Importantly, these results enhance our understanding of the mechanisms of self-repair, elicited by PCs, which may represent a novel cell therapy-based approach to treating diseases marked by tissue damage and loss of organ function.”

The efficacy of PC treatment was examined using the common streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mouse model. At three and ten days following administration of STZ, which destroys insulin-producing beta-cells, 1.5 million human or rat pancreas-derived PCs were injected into mice intravenously. As early as day nine, animals treated with rat or human PCs had significantly lower blood glucose than control animals (p