Treat new onset of type 1 diabetes by decidual stromal cells - Establish rationale for a clinical phase I/II trial

Stem cell-based therapy has achieved positive results for diabetes both in preclinical and clinical trials. The most studied stem cell type in the treatment of diabetes has been mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC). MSC are multipotent stromal cells that show immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. We have developed a method to isolate MSC from the placenta (DSC). In this project, we aim to investigate the efficiency of DSC to reduce the inflammatory response in beta cells and modulate the immune cells involved in the onset of T1D. We hypothesize that DSC can target the immune- and inflammatory pathways in T1D.

Primary Investigator: Hanne Scholz

Co-investigators/participants: 
Prof. Trond Geir Jenssen, MD, PhD UiO/OUS
Shadab Abadpour MSc, PhD, Postdoctor OUS/UiO
Ragnhild Fjukstad, Biomedical Laboratory Scientist OUS
Marina Katavic, MSc, Biomedical Laboratory Scientist, OUS
Merete Høyem, Research technician OUS
Section for Transplantation Surgery, OUS (Prof. Pål Dag Line, Morten Hagness, MD, PhD, Kristine Fasting, MD)    

Exteranl collaborators:
Dr. Jonas Mattsson, University Health Network, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Toronto, ON, Canada
Prof. Mats Remberger, Kliniska Forskning och Utvecklings Enheten (KFUE), Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden