Scientists create a mixed donor-patient immune system to cure type 1 diabetes in mice

Researchers at Stanford developed a protocol that creates a mixed donor–patient immune system to treat type 1 diabetes in mice.

The regimen used antibodies, low-dose radiation, and baricitinib to allow donor hematopoietic stem cells and islets to engraft without full myeloablation.

Treated mice produced insulin for at least 20 weeks and showed normal immune function with no islet rejection.

The treatment course took about 12 days, but researchers noted challenges for human translation including antibody availability and donor islet scarcity.