title: [Human stem cells in the treatment of pancreatic and hepatic diseases].
abstract: The pancreas and the liver are developmentally closely connected with each other.The development of stem cell technology has enabled the production of functional pancreatic endocrine cells and hepatocytes from pluripotent human stem cells. The differentiation of cells takes place by mimicking the events of developmental biology on a cell culture dish. The research is aiming at the development of cell replacement therapy for diabetes and hepatic insufficiency. Transplantations of islet cells have proven the possibilities of this strategy as a replacement of insulin therapy. Although there are promising initial clinical observations on hepatocyte transplantation, the limited growth capacity of these cells restricts the efficiency of the treatment.
authors.affiliation: HYKS:n lastenklinikka.
authors.forename: Elina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hakonen
authors.forename: Sanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toivonen
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jalanko
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Otonkoski
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*