Brain cells for beta cells

The proposed research aims to investigate the potential of choroid plexus epithelial cells (ChPECs) as a novel cell therapy for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D).

ChPECs, known for their secretion of cerebrospinal fluid containing trophic factors, growth hormones, and angiogenic factors, have shown promise in reducing the impact of various neurological diseases.

Importantly, ChPEC transplants have been demonstrated to be safe and well-tolerated in people with Parkinson's disease, highlighting their translational feasibility.

The study seeks to explore the impact of ChPECs on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and β-cell function and survival, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the effectiveness of stem cell ß-cell therapies in T1D.

Furthermore, the project aims to create a fully human in vitro transplantation model to examine pseudoislet vascularisation.

The innovative nature of the research lies in its potential to repurpose brain stem cell therapies for diabetes, enhance the benefits provided by MSCs in islet/stem cell ß-cell transplantation, and create a fully human in vitro islet/pseudoislet vascularisation model, which could be useful to many in the field.

If successful, the outcomes of this study could lay substantial groundwork for further translational grant schemes and potential clinical development.

The proposed research represents a significant step forward in the exploration of ChPECs as a potential cell therapy for T1D.

By leveraging recent developments in choroid plexus stem cell models, organoid research and organ-on-a-chip manufacture, the study aims to develop high-quality, human-relevant models to rapidly examine ChPEC feasibility as a component of future T1D stem cell therapies.