Cell therapy approaches for the treatment of diabetes.
Pancreatic beta-cell replacement represents an attractive approach for treatment of type 1 and insulin-requiring type 2 diabetic patients. This prospect is currently restricted by the limited availability of donor cells. Recent developments, including beta-cell expansion by reversible immortalization, and generation of beta-cells by differentiation from embryonic and adult tissue progenitor cells, may provide abundant sources of cultured human beta-cells. Such cells could be genetically modified, as well as encapsulated in semi-permeable membranes, to increase their resistance to recurring autoimmunity (in type 1 diabetics) and to beta-cell degenerative agents (in type 2 diabetics).
Efrat
S
S
Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel. sefrat@post.tau.ac.il
D000818:Animals; D064987:Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000628:therapy; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D012038:Regeneration