Published online Jul 15, 2025. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v16.i7.107344
Revised: April 21, 2025
Accepted: June 13, 2025
Published online: July 15, 2025
Processing time: 116 Days and 19.3 Hours
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 dia
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.