Background: Diabetes Mellitus (D.M.) is a major health problem affecting more than 200 million worldwide. The ideal treatment for autoimmune type I diabetes is regeneration of endogenous β-cells which could be achieved by mesenchymal stem cells transplantation.
Aim of the work: This work aimed to compare the effect of intravenous bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs) on Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type I diabetes in albino rats. Material and Methods: Fifty albino male rats were divided into 4 groups; control, diabetic, BMSCs treated and AMSCs treated. Treated groups were intravenously given 1 ml PKH26 labeled allogenic BMSCs or AMSCs suspended in phosphate buffered saline, respectively. Animals of all groups were sacrificed 2 weeks after stem cells administration. Sections from control and treated groups were examined by fluorescence microscope. Sections from all groups were immunohistochemically stained to detect insulin and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Mean area percent of insulin and number of PCNA positive reactions were measured and statistically analyzed.
Results: Diabetic rats showed cell death and congested blood vessels in both exocrine and endocrine pancreas. Treated groups revealed homing of stem cells in pancreas after their transplantation. Moreover, nearly normal histological features were seen in AMSCs treated group. Studying the treated groups immunohistochemically, revealed increase in insulin and PCNA positive reactions when compared to diabetic group with more increase in AMSCs treated group than BMSCs treated group. Conclusion: Intravenous AMSCs could be more effective than BMSCs in treatment of STZ-induced type I diabetes.