Discoveries from the Bench to the Bedside

Stem Cells for Diabetes Complications: A Future Potential Cure

Mogher Khamaisi and Sarit Ella Balanson

Abstract

Long-standing diabetes leads to structural and functional alterations in both the micro- and the macro-vasculature. Designing therapies to repair these abnormalities present unique and sophisticated challenges. Vascular endothelial cells are the primary cells damaged by hyperglycemia-induced adverse effects. Vascular stem cells that give rise to endothelial progenitor cells and mesenchymal progenitor cells represent an attractive target for cell therapy for diabetic patients. In this review, we shed light on challenges and recent advances surrounding stem cell therapies for diabetes vascular complications and discuss limitations for their clinical adoption.

Rambam Maimonides Med J 2017;8(1):e0008