CELL CLUSTERS COMPRISING STEM AND ISLET CELLS, METHODS OF MAKING, AND TREATMENT OF DIABETES MELLITUS THEREWITH
Provided are compositions and methods of treating impaired glucose tolerance which substantially increase the islet donor pool and safety as well as remove the need for anti-rejections drugs. Described are methods of making cell clusters comprising: expanding pancreatic islet cells; and forming cell clusters comprising: the expanded islet cells and mesenchymal/adipose stem cells. Expansion of the islet cells may include => five population doublings. The islet cells may be primary islet cells obtained from an adult, non-diabetic donor having a North America Islet Donor Score (NAIDS) of < 80. Described are cell clusters produced by the methods. Additionally, methods of treatment by intraperitoneal administration of islet-sized cell clusters composed of high numbers of mesenchymal stem cells and expanded pancreatic islet cells, durably and reversibly treats, without hypoglycemia, both streptozotocin-induced and spontaneous Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, and other types of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, or impaired glucose tolerance.