Table 2 Characteristics of the MSC-based therapies in T2DM

BM-MNCs

–

25

17/8

55.8

13.2

–

Intra-pancreatic

12 months

4/15 insulin-free, 13/15 reduced insulin requirements ≥ 50%, HbA1C decreased 29.5%

C-Pep improved

–

–

No adverse effects

Estrada et al. [43]

BM-MNCs

Yes

Ctrl 20

MNCs 20

11/9

12/8

54.9

56.4

9.5

9.8

MNC 4.0 × 10⁹

Intra-pancreatic

12 months

Insulin dose decreased 30%, HbA1C decreased 13% in the treated group

FCP improved

–

–

Transient abdominal pain

Punctual hemorrhage

Wu et al. [44]

BM-MNCs

–

10

8/2

57.5

14.6

MNC 3.5 × 10⁸

(CD34+  3.1 × 10⁶)

Intra-pancreatic

6 months

3/10 insulin-free, 7/10 reduced insulin requirements ≥ 50%, HbA1C decreased 13.1%

FCP, glucagon-stimulated C-Pep improved, HOMA-β increased

HOMA-IR no change

–

Hematoma

Hemoglobin

Respiratory infection

Bhansali et al. [45]

BM-MNCs

–

31

–

–

–

MNC 3.76 × 10⁹

Intra-pancreatic

24 months

7/26 reduced insulin requirements, HbA1C decreased 18.4%

C-Pep improved

–

–

–

Wang et al. [46]

BM-MNCs

Yes

Ctrl 62

MNCs 56

36/18

38/18

50.2

50.4

7.3

8.6

MNC 2.8 × 10⁹

Intra-pancreatic

33 months

18/56 insulin-free, 37/56 reduced insulin requirements ≥ 50%,

HbA1C decreased 13.1% in treated group;

Insulin dose increased gradually in control

FCP, PCP improved in treated group; decreased in control

–

–

No adverse effects

Hu et al. [47]

BM-MNCs

+P-MNCs

Yes

Ctrl 10

MNCs 11

7/3

9/2

54

51

20

12

MNC 2.9 × 10⁸

(CD34+ 3.2 × 10⁶)

P-MNC 4.9 × 10⁸

(CD34+ 5.8 × 10⁶)

Twice treatment

Intra-pancreatic

IV

12 months

9/11 reduced insulin requirements ≥ 50%, 10/11 maintain HbA1c < 7% in treated group

Glucagon-stimulated C-Pep improved in treated group, HOMA-β no difference

HOMA-IR lower in treated group

–

Punctual related effects

Bhansali et al. [48]

BM-MNCs/MSCs

Yes

Ctrl 10

MNCs 10

MSCs 10

6/4

7/3

8/2

53.5

44.5

50.5

14

13

15

MNC 1.1 × 10⁹

(CD34+ 1.8 × 10⁷)

MSC 8.35 × 10⁷

Intra-pancreatic

12 months

6/10 reduced insulin requirements ≥ 50%, maintain HbA1c < 7% in both treated groups;

None improved in the control group

Glucagon-stimulated C-Pep improved in the MNC group

ISI improved in MSCs group

–

Punctual hemorrhage

Hypoglycemic

Bhansali et al. [49]

WJ-MSCs

–

22

15/7

52.9

8.7

1 × 10⁶/kg

Twice treatment

IV

Intra-pancreatic

12 months

7/17 insulin-free, 12/17 reduced insulin requirements ≥ 50%

HbA1C decreased 15%

FCP improved; HOMA-β increased

–

T lymphocytes decreased, IL-6 and IL-1β reduced

Punctual hemorrhage

Fever

C-pep temporary decreased

Liu et al. [50]

WJ-MSCs

–

6

6/0

40.5

3.6

0.88 × 10⁶/kg

0.87 × 10⁶/kg

Twice treatment

IV

24 months

3/6 insulin-free,

FCP, PCP improved

–

–

No adverse effects

Guan et al. [51]

WJ-MSCs

Yes

Ctrl 30

MSC 31

16/14

17/14

53.2

52.4

8.3

8.93

1.0 × 10⁶/kg

Twice treatment

IV

36 months

10/31 insulin-free, 18/31 reduced insulin requirements ≥ 50%,

HbA1C decreased 25.8% in treated group;

Insulin dose increased gradually in control

FCP improved;

HOMA-β increased

HOMA-IR decreased trend

–

Hypoglycemia

Hu et al. [52]

UC-MSCs

–

18

–

–

–

1 × 10⁶/kg

Thrice treatment

IV

6 months

Insulin requirements without reduced

C-Pep without improved

–

Tregs increased trend

Fever

Kong et al. [53]

PD-MSCs

–

10

7/3

66

11

1.35 × 10⁶/kg

Thrice treatment

IV

6 months

4/10 reduced insulin requirements ≥ 50%,

HbA1C decreased 31.6%

C-Pep improved

–

–

No adverse effects

Jiang et al. [54]

CB-SCs

–

36

21/15

52

14

14 months

Insulin dose, oral medications, HbA1C decreased

FCP improved; HOMA-β increased

HOMA-IR reduced

TGF-β1, CTLA-4 increased; IL-17, IL-12,IL-4, IL-5,CD86 + CD14+ monocytes decreased;

increased

Punctual-related effects

Zhao et al. [55]