Chemical strategies for pancreatic β cell differentiation, reprogramming, and regeneration.
Generation of unlimited functional pancreatic β cells is critical for the study of pancreatic biology and treatment of diabetes mellitus. Recent advances have suggested several promising directions, including directed differentiation of pancreatic β cells from pluripotent stem cells, reprogramming of pancreatic β cells from other types of somatic cells, and stimulated proliferation and enhanced functions of existing pancreatic β cells. Small molecules are useful in generating unlimited numbers of functional pancreatic cells in vitro and could be further developed as drugs to stimulate endogenous pancreatic regeneration. Here, we provide an updated summary of recent major achievements in pancreatic β cell differentiation, reprogramming, proliferation, and function. These studies will eventually lead to significant advances in the field of pancreatic biology and regeneration.
Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
Xiaojie
X
Ma
Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
Saiyong
S
Zhu
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
D054852:Small Molecule Libraries
Pancreatic β cell; differentiation; regeneration; reprogramming; small molecule