title: Generation of islets of Langerhans from adult pancreatic stem cells.
abstract: Ductal structures of the adult pancreas contain multipotent stem cells that, under controlled in vitro conditions, are able to self-renew and differentiate into functional islets of Langerhans. In vitro-generated islets, whether derived from stem cells of human, porcine, or mouse origin, exhibit temporal changes in mRNA transcripts for islet-associated markers as well as regulated insulin responses following glucose challenge. When in vitro-generated mouse islets were implanted into diabetic mice, neovascularization of the implant material occurred, followed by reversal of insulin-dependent diabetes. The possibility of growing functional islets from adult stem cells provides new opportunities to produce large numbers of islets, even autologous islets, for use as implants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, PO Box 100275 JHMHSC, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA.
authors.forename: Ammon B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Peck
authors.forename: Janet G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Cornelius
authors.forename: Desmond
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schatz
authors.forename: Vijayakumar K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Ramiya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000601:surgery; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007515:Islets of Langerhans; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000166:cytology