Context: ZIMISLECEL, a new allogeneic stem cell-derived islet cell therapy, has shown promise in a recent study involving people with Type-1 Diabetes.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: ZIMISLECEL; Type-1 DiabetesMains: Potential use cases of Stem Cell Therapy.
About Diabetes
- Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood glucose (sugar) level to become too high. The hormone insulin (produced by the pancreas) is responsible for controlling the amount of glucose in the blood.
- Type-1 Diabetes (insulin-dependent) is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system mistakenly destroys insulin-making cells (islets cells) in the pancreas. It is characterised by deficient insulin production, and the person requires daily administration of insulin. For decades, managing T-1D has relied on insulin therapy alone.
ZIMISLECEL: Stem Cell-derived Islet Cell Therapy
- Zimislecel is an investigational stem cell-derived islet therapy for Type-1 Diabetes.
- Scientists made Zimislecel by growing islets from pluripotent stem cells in the lab. These stem cells were matured into functioning islets and infused into the liver in the patients with severe, long-standing Type-1 Diabetes.
- Early trials show that these stem cell-derived islet cells began producing insulin again, improving blood sugar control and preventing dangerous lows.
Results of the Trials:
- The early-stage trial aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of Zimislecel in restoring islet function in affected individuals.
- Within 90 days, all participants were producing C-peptide, a marker of insulin production, with levels more than doubling by day 365.
- Blood sugar control improved and 83% of participants treated no longer required insulin after one year.
- To prevent their bodies from rejecting the transplanted cells, they were placed on an immunosuppressive regimen.
- Phase 3 trials of Zimislecel are underway with 50 participants from around the world and will be followed for five years.
The therapy is still underdevelopment and may have cost considerations and the side-effects related to life-long immunosuppression.
What are Stem Cells?
- Stem cells are undifferentiated cells with the potential to develop into specialised cell types in the body. They can self-renew which makes them valuable for therapeutic applications.
- Stem cell therapy utilises stem cells to promote the repair, regeneration, or replacement of damaged or diseased tissues within the body.
Types of Stem Cells:
- Totipotent: Most versatile, with potential to differentiate into all different cell types of an organism and extraembryonic cells (including placenta and umbilical cord). Only found in fertilised eggs (zygote).
- Pluripotent: Derived from inner cell mass of a blastocyst (an early-stage embryo). Can give rise to all different cell types in the body (except extraembryonic cells). E.g., Embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells (genetically reprogrammed to the pluripotent state from adult cells).
- Multipotent: More specialised than pluripotent stem cells and can differentiate into limited range of cell types within a specific tissue or organ. E.g., Hematopoietic stem cells (give rise to various blood cell types), mesenchymal stem cells (can differentiate into bone, cartilage, fat cell etc.)
Unipotent: Most specialised type of stem cells, can only renew themselves and differentiate into one specific cell type. E.g., Stem cells in skin that can only differentiate into another skin cell.
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