Abstract
BACKGROUND: Diabetes can be treated by β-cell replacement therapy but the supply of graft material from human donors is too limited to make a significant clinical impact. Substitute β-cells generated from stem cell populations offer a potential source for the large numbers of cells required.
SOURCES OF DATA: Primary peer-reviewed reports of experimental studies.
AREAS OF AGREEMENT: Embryonic stem cells and/or induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are currently the most promising starting populations from which to generate large numbers of β-cells. Differentiation protocols that recapitulate in vivo development generate insulin-expressing cells in vitro.
AREAS OF CONTROVERSY: Differentiation outcomes may depend on the source of the initial pluripotent cells. The insulin-expressing cells are not fully functional. In vivo maturation is inconsistent and not well understood.
AREAS TIMELY FOR DEVELOPING RESEARCH: Improvement of current protocols for complete in vitro differentiation to a functional β-cell phenotype. Systematic analysis to identify the most appropriate starting material. Improved purification methods to ensure safety of material for clinical transplantation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 123-135 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | British Medical Bulletin |
| Volume | 100 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2011 |
Keywords
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1
- Embryonic Stem Cells
- Humans
- Insulin-Secreting Cells
- Islets of Langerhans
- Pluripotent Stem Cells
- Stem Cell Transplantation
