New organs from our own tissues: liver-to-pancreas transdifferentiation.
Recent advances in pancreatic islet transplantation emphasize the potential of this approach for the long-term control of blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. However, tissue-replacement therapy will become widely available as a treatment for diabetes only when new sources of islets and insulin-producing cells are found. Here, we review recent evidence that documents the potential of mature liver as a source of tissue for generating a functional endocrine pancreas, by ectopic expression of pancreatic transcription and differentiation factors. When key events in the transconversion process have been identified, using the liver as a source of pancreatic tissue might provide a valuable approach for replacing impaired beta cell function in diabetics.
Meivar-Levy
Irit
I
Endocrine Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
Ferber
Sarah
S
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000502:physiology*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D010179:Pancreas / Q000502:physiology*; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; C084010:pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 protein