title: Insulin-secreting β cells require a post-genomic concept.
abstract: Pancreatic insulin-secreting β cells are essential in maintaining normal glucose homeostasis accomplished by highly specialized transcription of insulin gene, of which occupies up to 40% their transcriptome. Deficiency of these cells causes diabetes mellitus, a global public health problem. Although tremendous endeavors have been made to generate insulin-secreting cells from human pluripotent stem cells (i.e., primitive cells capable of giving rise to all cell types in the body), a regenerative therapy to diabetes has not yet been established. Furthermore, the nomenclature of β cells has become inconsistent, confusing and controversial due to the lack of standardized positive controls of developmental stage-matched in vivo cells. In order to minimize this negative impact and facilitate critical research in this field, a post-genomic concept of pancreatic β cells might be helpful. In this review article, we will briefly describe how β cells were discovered and islet lineage is developed that may help understand the cause of nomenclatural controversy, suggest a post-genomic definition and finally provide a conclusive remark on future research of this pivotal cell.
authors.affiliation: Fang-Xu Jiang, Islet Cell Development Program, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Fang-Xu
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Fang-Xu Jiang, Islet Cell Development Program, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Grant
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morahan
keywords: Beta cells; Concept; Insulin; Post-genome