New sources of beta-cells for treating diabetes.
The treatment of diabetes by islet transplantation is presently hampered by the shortage of organ donors. The generation of insulin-producing cells is therefore a major objective in the long-term goal of curing diabetes. Alternative sources of pancreatic beta-cells include existing pancreatic cells, embryonic stem cells, and cells from other tissues such as liver. This commentary considers evidence for two new sources of beta-cells: intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells and gall bladder epithelium. These observations raise the possibility that a patient's own cells may be used as a source of insulin-producing cells for cell replacement in diabetes.
Stem Cells and Diabetes Section, National Center for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune, India.
Subhshri
S
Sahu
David
D
Tosh
Anandwardhan A
AA
Hardikar
D000818:Animals; D001659:Biliary Tract / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D054338:Cell Transdifferentiation / Q000502:physiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D010179:Pancreas / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology