Pancreatic acinar-to-beta cell transdifferentiation in vitro.
Although accumulating evidence indicates that proliferation of pre-existing beta-cells is the major mechanism of the maintenance of postnatal beta-cell mass, new beta-cells can be generated from non-beta-cells under certain conditions in vitro. We have recently shown directly by Cre/loxP-based cell lineage tracing that adult mouse pancreatic acinar cells can be transdifferentiated into insulin-secreting cells in vitro. These newly made cells secrete insulin in response to glucose and other secretagogues, but their secretory capacity is still low compared to that of native beta-cells. To improve the efficiency of generation of insulin-secreting cells from non-beta cells, it is critical to understand the molecular mechanism of such transdifferentiation. Since pancreatic acinar cells are the most abundant cell type in the pancreas, their utilization as a source of surrogate beta-cells is an intriguing approach to cell replacement therapy for type 1 diabetes. This review focuses on current knowledge of the regeneration of pancreatic beta-cells and transdifferentiation of pancreatic acinar-cells into insulin-secreting cells.
Division of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan. kminami@btctr.kobeu.ac.jp
Kohtaro
K
Minami
Susumu
S
Seino
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D054338:Cell Transdifferentiation; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
D007328:Insulin; D014157:Transcription Factors