Zuo DB, Wang CH, Sang M, Sun XD, Chen GP, Ji KK. Stem cell therapy for diabetes: Advances, prospects, and challenges. World J Diabetes 2025; 16(7): 107344 [DOI: 10.4239/wjd.v16.i7.107344]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Kang-Kang Ji, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Chief Physician, Professor, Department of Clinical Medical Research, Binhai County People’s Hospital, Clinical Medical College of Yangzhou University, No. 299 Haibin Road, Yancheng 224500, Jiangsu Province, China. kyrie@mail.ustc.edu.cn
Research Domain of This Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Article-Type of This Article
Minireviews
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Diabetes. Jul 15, 2025; 16(7): 107344 Published online Jul 15, 2025. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v16.i7.107344
Stem cell therapy for diabetes: Advances, prospects, and challenges
Dian-Bao Zuo, Chun-Hua Wang, Ming Sang, Xiao-Dong Sun, Guo-Ping Chen, Kang-Kang Ji
Dian-Bao Zuo, Ming Sang, Xiao-Dong Sun, Research Center for Translational Medicine, Xiangyang No. 1 People’s Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang 441000, Hubei Province, China
Chun-Hua Wang, Central Laboratory, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang 441021, Hubei Province, China
Guo-Ping Chen, Kang-Kang Ji, Department of Clinical Medical Research, Binhai County People’s Hospital, Clinical Medical College of Yangzhou University, Yancheng 224500, Jiangsu Province, China
Co-first authors: Dian-Bao Zuo and Chun-Hua Wang.
Co-corresponding authors: Guo-Ping Chen and Kang-Kang Ji.
Author contributions: Ji KK and Chen GP conceived and designed the review; Zuo DB and Wang CH wrote the manuscript with the assistance of other co-authors; Sang M and Sun XD gave critical views about this theme; Ji KK and Zuo DB contributed to the manuscript revision and guidance; All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Supported by the Faculty Development Grants of Xiangyang No. 1 People’s Hospital Affiliated to Hubei University of Medicine, No. XYY2025D05, No. 2024QDJZR037 and No. 2024QDJZR015.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Kang-Kang Ji, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Chief Physician, Professor, Department of Clinical Medical Research, Binhai County People’s Hospital, Clinical Medical College of Yangzhou University, No. 299 Haibin Road, Yancheng 224500, Jiangsu Province, China. kyrie@mail.ustc.edu.cn
Received: March 21, 2025 Revised: April 21, 2025 Accepted: June 13, 2025 Published online: July 15, 2025 Processing time: 116 Days and 19.3 Hours
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus, a global epidemic, represents a major public health threat. Stem cell therapy, with its regenerative capacity, has emerged as a promising approach for diabetes mellitus management. This paper reviews recent advancements, prospects, and challenges in stem cell-based treatments for diabetes mellitus, focusing on the applications of induced pluripotent stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells, the development of pancreatic islet organoids, and the potential for personalized medicine. The review critically assesses the efficacy and safety of stem cell therapies in clinical trials and examines their applications in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Despite the promising potential, challenges such as safety concerns, transplantation efficiency, ethical considerations, and immune rejection remain prevalent. Lastly, the paper discusses future directions, including the integration of stem cell therapy with other treatments and the advancement of personalized therapeutic strategies, offering new perspectives and hope for diabetes mellitus management.
Core Tip: Stem cell therapy emerges as a transformative approach, leveraging dual mechanisms: Differentiation into glucose-responsive β-cells and immunomodulation via paracrine signaling. Recent advancements include vertex pharmaceuticals’ VX-880 trial, where patients demonstrated restored insulin production and a significant reduction in exogenous insulin dependence. Challenges such as tumorigenicity in pluripotent stem cells and immune rejection are addressed through clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-edited human leukocyte antigen knockouts and encapsulation technologies. Innovations like three dimensional-bioprinted organoids and artificial intelligence-driven personalized regimens integrating MSC-pharmacotherapy synergies exemplify the next frontier, promising scalable, precision solutions to redefine diabetes management and mitigate complications.
