title: Basics and applications of stem cells in the pancreas.
abstract: Enormous efforts have been made to establish pancreatic stem/progenitor cells as a source for regenerative medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In recent years, it has been recognized that the self-renewal of beta cells is the dominant process involved in postnatal beta-cell regeneration and expansion. Nevertheless, several in-vitro studies have suggested that ductal or as yet unidentified cells are candidates for pancreatic stem/progenitor cells that can differentiate into multilineage cells, including insulin(+) cells. The question remains as to whether beta cells are generated postnatally from stem/progenitor cells other than pre-existing beta cells. Furthermore, mutated pancreatic stem cells are considered to be prospective candidates for cancer stem cells or tumor-initiating cells. This review highlights recent progress in pancreatic stem/progenitor cell research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Regenerative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sekine
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000637:transplantation; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology*; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*