Current trends in type 1 diabetes mellitus--stem cells and beyond.

Search for a cure for type-1 diabetes mellitus has lead to many avenues of research, all having the same objective: to replace the lost beta cells and prevent their further destruction by the immune system. Transplantation of islets of Langerhans seems closer to achieving this goal with the recent introduction of new improved immunosuppressive protocols including monoclonal antibodies against the T-lymphocytes. But the need for acquiring beta cells in large numbers rather limits this approach. With the recent advancement in stem cell technology, it may be possible to gather enough stem cells for transplantation purposes. In this regard, embryonic stem cells have shown the greatest promise due to their capacity for unlimited proliferation and differentiation into any cell type. This review discusses the current direction of research regarding diabetes mellitus type-1, while explaining the progress being made in stem cell usage in finding a cure for the disease.