[Regeneration of the pancreas].
Pancreatic beta-cells possess a well-regulated insulin secretory property that maintains systemic glucose homeostasis. Although it has long been thought that differentiated beta-cells are nearly static, recent studies have shown that beta-cell mass dynamically changes throughout the lifetime. The beta-cell mass could be maintained by several mechanisms, including self-replication of pre-existing beta-cells, neogenesis from unidentified stem/progenitor cells, and transdifferentiation from differentiated duct or acinar cells. Recent studies have suggested that self-replication of pre-existing beta-cells is a major source for maintenance of beta-cell mass in adult pancreas. However, regeneration of beta-cells from non-beta-cells does occur under certain conditions, especially in vitro culture systems. In this article, recent progress of regenerative medicine of the pancreas is reviewed.
Minami
Kohtaro
K
Division of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine.
Seino
Susumu
S
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D012038:Regeneration; D044968:Regenerative Medicine
D007328:Insulin