ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

learn more

Contact ASN

1401 H St, NW, Ste 900, Washington, DC 20005

email@asn-online.org

202-640-4660

The Latest on X

Kidney Week

Abstract: FR-PO265

Prevention of Diabetic Nephropathy with Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Cardiac Surgery Patients and in Nonobese Diabetic (NOD) Mice and Diabetic Dogs with "Neo-Islets," Three-Dimensional Organoids of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), and Pancreatic Islet Cells

Session Information

Category: Diabetic Kidney Disease

  • 701 Diabetic Kidney Disease: Basic

Authors

  • Westenfelder, Christof, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
  • Gooch, Anna, SymbioCellTech, LLC, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Background

The most common cause of dialysis requiring ESKD is DNP.
Prevention of this serious complication is urgently needed. We addressed this need by utilizing the potent capacity of MSCs to prevent AKI and 2° CKD and to provide immune isolation in Neo-Islet (NI) treated autoimmune T1DM. In a Clinical Trial (NCT00733876) in cardiac surgery patients, at high risk for post-op AKI, we compared the renoprotective efficacy of allogeneic MSCs in diabetic to that in non-diabetic subjects. In 2 preclinical studies we investigated whether the therapy of auto-immune T1DM in NOD mice and dogs (INAD012-776) with allogeneic NIs would prevent DNP.

Methods

Clinical Trial: 16 adult patients, 7 diabetic, undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery (CABG ± valve) and being at high risk for post-op AKI were infused via the suprarenal aorta with allogeneic MSCs. Vital signs, renal function and glycemic control were monitored for 10 yrs and compared to those of well-matched historical controls (n=105). Therapy (i.p.) of diabetic NOD mice and dogs with allogeneic NIs: the response of diabetic NOD mice (n=7) vs. controls (n=7) was monitored x 12 wks and in diabetic dogs (n=9) x 3 yrs. Immune responses and mouse renal pathologies were examined.

Results

Clinical Trial: none of the MSC treated diabetic and non-diabetic patients developed post-op AKI or progressed over 10 years to DNP/ESKD. No mortality and no allo-immune response. In contrast, a significant percentage of historical controls developed post-op AKI, progressed to ESKD and suffered mortalitiy. Response of diabetic NOD mice and dogs to NIs: All NOD mice became euglycemic, none developed DNP, while diabetic controls did. Daily insulin needs of TIDM dogs were durably (3 yrs) reduced by 50% (p< 0.01), body weights were stable, blood glucose and HbA1C levels and albuminuria were normalized, renal and liver functions, lipid profiles and CBCs remained normal, and no immune responses to NIs or AEs/SAEs were observed.

Conclusion

These studies demonstrate that these biotherapies prevented the development of DNP and ESKD, and this without the need for anti-rejection drugs. The FDA approved the conduct of our IND-enabling study needed for the planned Phase I/II Clinical Trial in which the therapeutic efficacy of human NIs will be tested in T1DM subjects.

Funding

  • Commercial Support – SymbioCellTech