Pancreatic protection elicited by platelet-rich plasma and cinnamon combination in a rat model of type 1 diabetes: is it a new era in islet cell regeneration and insulin signalling genes?

Introduction: Enhancement of islet cell regeneration is a great demand that worth the attention of researchers and health-care providers to replace the risk of β-cell transplantation in type 1 diabetic patients.
Aim: Evaluation of the regenerative and therapeutic potential of cinnamon (CMN) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) either alone or combined on the reversal of the pancreatic ultrastructure and insulin signalling pathway in STZ-induced diabetic rats.
Materials and Methods: Fifteen adult male albino rats were used for obtaining PRP and the remaining 35 rats were used as control, diabetic (STZ, 65mg/kg, IV), diabetic CMN-treated (200 mg/kg, oral), diabetic PRP-treated (0.2 ml/kg, ip), and diabetic combined-treatment groups. Pancreatic specimens were arranged for biochemical analysis, processed for light and electron microscopic studies and were prepared for molecular analysis of the gene expression of insulin receptor-B (IR-B), insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and PI3-kinase as a marker for phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase signalling pathway.
Results: Specimens of the diabetic group showed islet atrophy with apoptotic cellular changes, in addition to cellular depletion and vacuolar changes in some sections. Insulin immunostained sections showed weak immunoreactions. Electron microscopy showed small pyknotic beta cells’ nuclei, numerous immature secretory granules, swelling of the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum and cytoplasmic rarefactions. In contrast, noticeable improvement was seen in monotherapy groups with a remarkable restoration in combination group. Noteworthy, potential islet cell regeneration was evident in PRP-treated group and became more prominent in the combined treatment group.
Conclusion: The individual use of each treatment showed satisfying results, regarding the islet structure and function, which qualify them to be used as an adjunctive therapy in the field of integrative medicine to manage type 1 DM. However, the use of both combined had a synergistic action, showed a better islet regeneration and might be a proper alternative for the burden of frequent insulin dosing and adjustment.