LAUSR

Stem cell engraftment is currently a promising approach for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) treatment. In our previous study, engraftment of a combination of human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) and hyaluronic acid (HA) showed potent anti‐diabetic effect in streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced T1DM mice via tail vein injection. Here, we adopted a different route of stem cell delivery, that is via pancreatic subcapsular transplantation. This combined local engraftment of hAECs and HA in STZ‐induced T1DM rats showed potent anti‐diabetic activity, leading to stronger hypoglycaemia, more intact islet structure and increased number of insulin‐positive cells compared with those with hAECs or insulin treatments. Engraftment of hAECs alone increased the proportion of Th1 and T‐reg cells and decreased the proportion of Th2 and Th17 cells to protect islet β cells in STZ‐induced T1DM rats, whereas the combined engraftment of hAECs and HA showed more potent regulatory capacity, considerably decreased the level of TNF‐α and IL‐17 and increased the level of TGF‐β1 compared with those by other treatments. The potent synergistic effect of HA contributed to the recovery of immune balance in the diabetic rat model, thereby suggesting a new strategy for effective treatment of T1DM.