Making β(-like)-cells from exocrine pancreas.
Creating an abundant source of β(-like)-cells has been a major goal in diabetes research for many decades. The concept of cell plasticity has inspired many strategies towards regenerative medicine, but its successes have been limited until very recently. Today, most cell types in the pancreas are considered candidates for the generation of β(-like)-cells through transdifferentiation. While β(-like)-cells that are in vitro differentiated from human embryonic stem cells are already being grafted in patients, β(-like)-cells generated by transdifferentiation are not yet ready for clinical application. These cells would however offer several advantages over the current β(-like)-cells generated by directed differentiation, especially concerning safety issues. In addition, perfect control of the transdifferentiation efficiency would through targeted drug delivery support a non-invasive cell therapy for diabetes. Lastly, focusing on the exocrine pancreas as prime candidate makes sense in view of their abundance and high plasticity. Keeping these hopeful perspectives in mind, it is worth to continue focused research on the mechanisms that control transdifferentiation from pancreas exocrine to β-cells.
Diabetes Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.|Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Ghent University Hospital and Department of Pediatrics and Genetics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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Staels
Diabetes Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
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De Groef
Diabetes Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
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Bussche
Diabetes Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
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Leuckx
Diabetes Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
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Van de Casteele
Diabetes Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.|Departments of Endocrinology, UZ Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.|ASZ Aalst, Aalst, Belgium.
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De Leu
Diabetes Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
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Baeyens
Diabetes Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
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Heremans
Diabetes Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. Harry.Heimberg@vub.ac.be.
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Heimberg
D000066670:Cell Plasticity; D054338:Cell Transdifferentiation; D064987:Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy / Q000379:methods; D000067470:Cellular Reprogramming Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000637:transplantation; D046790:Pancreas, Exocrine / Q000166:cytology*
acinar cell; diabetes; duct cell; pancreas; progenitor cell; reprogramming; transdifferentiation; β-cell