Mechanisms of adult human β-cell in vitro dedifferentiation and redifferentiation.
Recent studies in animal models and human pathological specimens suggest the involvement of β-cell dedifferentiation in β-cell dysfunction associated with type 2 diabetes. Dedifferentiated β-cells may be exploited for endogenous renewal of the β-cell mass. However, studying human β-cell dedifferentiation in diabetes presents major difficulties. We have analysed mechanisms involved in human β-cell dedifferentiation in vitro, under conditions that allow cell proliferation. Although there are important differences between the two cellular environments, β-cell dedifferentiation in the two conditions is likely to share a number of common pathways. Insights from the in vitro studies may lead to development of approaches for redifferentiation of endogenous dedifferentiated β-cells.
Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel. sefrat@tauex.tau.ac.il.
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D054337:Cell Dedifferentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D054338:Cell Transdifferentiation; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
cell-lineage tracing; signalling pathways; type 2 diabetes; β-cell proliferation