title: Stem cells to insulin secreting cells: two steps forward and now a time to pause?
abstract: Two groups recently reported the in vitro differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into insulin-secreting cells, achieving an elusive goal for regenerative medicine. Herein we provide a perspective regarding these developments, compare phenotypes of the insulin-containing cells to human β cells, and discuss implications for type 1 diabetes research and clinical care.
authors.affiliation: McNair Medical Institute, Pediatric Diabetes and Endocrinology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Electronic address: kushner@bcm.edu.
authors.forename: Jake A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kushner
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada; Alberta Diabetes Institute, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada.
authors.forename: Patrick E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology and Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Atkinson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*