Embryonic stem cell therapy for diabetes mellitus.
There is a compelling need to develop novel therapies for diabetes mellitus. Recent successes in the transplantation of islets of Langerhans are seen as a major breakthrough. However, there is huge disparity between potential recipients and the availability of donor tissue. Human embryonic stem cells induced to form pancreatic beta cells could provide a replenishable supply of tissue. Early studies on the spontaneous differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells have laid the foundation for a more directed approach based on recapitulating the events that occur during the development of the pancreas in the mouse. A high yield of definitive endoderm has been achieved, and although beta-like cells can be generated in a step-wise manner, the efficiency is still low and the final product is not fully differentiated. Future challenges include generating fully functional islet cells under Xeno-free and chemically defined conditions and circumventing the need for immunosuppression.
Docherty
Kevin
K
School of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK. k.docherty@abdn.ac.uk
Bernardo
Andreia S
AS
Vallier
Ludovic
L
D000818:Animals; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*