Roles for bone-marrow-derived cells in beta-cell maintenance.
With more than 177 million people suffering from diabetes worldwide, and the number expected to double by 2030, finding new ways to treat this disease is a high priority. Intensive effort is being directed towards developing mechanisms for increasing beta-cell expansion as a diabetic therapeutic. Recent studies, in which adult bone marrow has been used to induce beta-cell expansion in mice, have shown both exciting and controversial results. In these reports, marrow-derived cells can contribute towards beta-cell maintenance both by promoting endogenous beta-cell expansion and possibly by transdifferentiation into beta-cells. These studies reveal mechanisms for potential therapeutic intervention.
Tessem
Jeffery S
JS
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center at Fitzsimons, PO Box 6511, MS8101 Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
DeGregori
James
J
D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D010179:Pancreas / Q000254:growth & development