title: Directed differentiation of progenitor cells towards an islet-cell phenotype.
abstract: Exogenous insulin administration and oral anti-diabetic drugs are the primary means of treating diabetes. However, tight glycaemic control, with its inherent risk of hypoglycaemia, is required to prevent the microvascular and macrovascular complications of the disease. While islet or pancreas transplantations offer a longer-term cure, their widespread application is not possible, primarily because of a lack of donor tissue, the burden of life-long immunosuppression, and eventual graft rejection. The rapid increase in the incidence of diabetes has promoted the search for alternative cell-based therapies. Here we review recent advances in the directed differentiation of both endocrine and non-endocrine progenitors towards an islet-like phenotype.
authors.affiliation: The Guy Hilton Research Centre, Institute for Science and Technology, Keele University UK.
authors.forename: Arif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abed
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Critchlow
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Flatt
authors.forename: Neville H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: McClenaghan
authors.forename: Catriona
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kelly
keywords: Endocrine; diabetes mellitus; insulin production; islet cells; progenitor cells