title: Pancreas β cell regeneration and type 1 diabetes (Review).
abstract: Diabetes mellitus, which may cause hyperglycemia and a number of complications, mostly results from a deficiency of β cell mass (type 1 diabetes) or a limitation of β cell function (type 2 diabetes). Currently, enhancing β cell regeneration and increasing cell proliferation have not only been described in experimental diabetes models, but have also been proven to improve outcomes for patients with diabetes. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms controlling the development and regeneration of β cells in the human pancreas may be helpful for the treatment of β cell-deficient disease. In this review, we first introduce the various cell types in the adult pancreas and thereby clarify their functions and origins. Then, the known mechanisms of β cell development and expansion in the normal human pancreas are described. The potential mechanisms of β cell regeneration, including β cell self-replication, neogenesis from non-β cell precursors and transdifferentiation from α cells, are discussed in the next part. Finally, the ability of the pancreas to regenerate mature β cells is explored in pathological conditions, including type 1 diabetes, chronic pancreatitis and persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy.
authors: Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Army General Hospital, Beijing 100700, P.R. China.
authors: Jinxiao
authors: J
authors: Wu
authors: Department of Cardiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, P.R. China.
authors: Xiyan
authors: X
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Army General Hospital, Beijing 100700, P.R. China.
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Army General Hospital, Beijing 100700, P.R. China.
authors: Xiuping
authors: X
authors: Xu
keywords: diabetes mellitus; endocrine pancreas; type 1 diabetes; β cell regeneration