Resumen

BERMUDEZ, V et al. Nuevas Opciones en el tratamiento de la Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1: Células Madre y Diabetes. AVFT [online]. 2002, vol.21, n.2, pp.171-176. ISSN 0798-0264.

Usually Type 1 diabetes results from autoimmune destruction of pancreatic islet ß-cells, with consequent absolute insulin deficiency and complete dependence on exogenous insulin treatment. The relative paucity of donations for pancreas or islet allograft transplantation has prompted the search for alternative sources for b-cell replacement therapy. Recent advances in molecular and cell biology may allow for the development of novel strategies for the treatment and cure of type 1 diabetes by using a renewable source of cells, such as islet cells derived from stem cells. Stem cells are defined as clonogenic cells capable of both self-renewal and multilineage differentiation. This means that these cells can be expanded in vivo or in vitro and differentiated to produce the desired cell type. There exist several sources of stem cells that have been demonstrated to give rise to pluripotent cell lines: 1) embryonic stem cells; 2) fetal stem cells; 3) adult stem cells. By using in vitro differentiation and selection protocols, embryonic stem cells can be guided into specific cell lineages and selected by applying genetic selection when a marker gene is expressed. Recently, differentiation and cell selection protocols have been used to generate embryonic stem cell-derived insulin-secreting cells that normalise blood glucose when transplanted into diabetic animals. Some recent reports suggest that functional plasticity of adult stem cells may be greater than expected. The use of adult stem cells will circumvent the ethical dilemma surrounding embryonic stem cells and will allow autotransplantation. These investigations have increased the expectations that cell therapy could be one of the solutions to diabetes.

Palabras clave : Diabetes tipo 1; Células madre y diabetes; Tratamiento.