Stem Cell Therapy as a Regenerative Strategy in Hereditary Pancreatitis Postpancreatectomy

Complete loss of both endocrine and exocrine functions of the pancreas results in the lifelong necessity for enzyme and insulin therapy, coupled with the possibility of immunosuppressant side effects following transplantation, representing the future for patients with hereditary pancreatitis (HP) after routine surgical intervention. One possible method for regenerating pancreatic cells and restoring their functioning is the application of stem cell therapy. The purpose of this narrative review is to compile the body of research on the application of stem cell therapy as a regenerative treatment for postpancreatectomy HP. Many pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), such as human embryonic stem cell-derived, and bone marrow (BM)-derived mesenchymal cells, are in different phases of study. These studies led to the creation of CRISPR VCTX210, VC-02 implants by ViaCyte. VX-880 by Vertex, in its phase 3 trial, used fully differentiated, allogenic pluripotent-stem-cell-derived islet therapy as a functional cure for type 1 diabetes. An allogeneic BM-derived mesenchymal stem cell (MSC), STEMCAP-1, developed by the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), is currently in its initial phase of trial. The terms "Hereditary Pancreatitis," "Pancreatectomy and insulin," and "Stem cell therapy" were used in a thorough search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and NIH. Thematic discussion and identification of pertinent material were conducted. Significant areas of divergence in the literature encompass the conventional management of HP, the justification for using Stem Cell Therapy, diverse clinical studies of beta-cell therapies, its burgeoning application in biotechnology and academic institutions, along with the implications for accessibility and economic factors. The enduring risk of insulin-dependent diabetes associated with HP can be mitigated through the regeneration of function with PSC-derived implants and MSC co-transplantation after pancreatectomy. Researchers may find this review useful in developing procedures for patient selection and monitoring, and clinicians may find it helpful in incorporating new treatments into patient care for HP.