Current status of regeneration of pancreatic β-cells.
Newly generated insulin-secreting cells for use in cell therapy for insulin-deficient diabetes mellitus require properties similar to those of native pancreatic β-cells. Pancreatic β-cells are highly specialized cells that produce a large amount of insulin, and secrete insulin in a regulated manner in response to glucose and other stimuli. It is not yet explained how the β-cells acquire this complex function during normal differentiation. So far, in vitro generation of insulin-secreting cells from embryonic stem cells, induced-pluripotent stem cells and adult stem/progenitor-like cells has been reported. However, most of these cells are functionally immature and show poor glucose-responsive insulin secretion compared to that of native pancreatic β-cells (or islets). Strategies to generate functional β-cells or a whole organ in vivo have also recently been proposed. Establishing a protocol to generate fully functional insulin-secreting cells that closely resemble native β-cells is a critical matter in regenerative medicine for diabetes. Understanding the physiological processes of differentiation, proliferation and regeneration of pancreatic β-cells might open the path to cell therapy to cure patients with absolute insulin deficiency.
Division of Cellular and Molecular Medicine Department of Physiology and Cell Biology Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine Kobe Japan.
Kohtaro
K
Minami
Division of Cellular and Molecular Medicine Department of Physiology and Cell Biology Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine Kobe Japan ; Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology Department of Internal Medicine Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine Kobe Japan ; Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST) Japan Science and Technology Corp. Kawaguchi Saitama Japan.
Susumu
S
Seino
Diabetes; Insulin; Regenerative medicine