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Sources of β-cells for human cell-based therapies for diabetes

  • Development Of New Sources Of Insulin-Producing Cells
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Abstract

Recent progress in islet transplantation coupled with the extremely limited supply of primary human islets has spurred the search for alternative sources of β-cells for transplantation therapy in treating diabetes. Many potential sources of cells are being explored, including embryonic and adult stem cells, identification of intrapancreatic precursor cells, and human β-cell lines. Here, we review the promise and problems with those cell sources, focusing on our studies in developing functional human β-cell lines. Those efforts involve a two-step process in which the first is to introduce growth stimulatory genes that induce human β-cells to enter the cell cycle. Immortalization can then be achieved by expressing the hTERT telomerase subunit. The second step is to induce differentiation. This involves a complex set of manipulations, including the expression of the important β-cell transcription factor PDX-1. Although PDX-1 is critical for promoting β-cell differentiation, we do not find increased expression of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor, a gene that has been reported to be induced by PDX-1. Further understanding of the factors governing β-cell development are likely to be required before a robust cell-based therapy is available for the treatment of diabetes.

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  1. Cancer Center, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA

    Pamela Itkin-Ansari & Fred Levine

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  1. Pamela Itkin-Ansari
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  2. Fred Levine
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Correspondence to Pamela Itkin-Ansari.

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Itkin-Ansari, P., Levine, F. Sources of β-cells for human cell-based therapies for diabetes. Cell Biochem Biophys 40 (Suppl 3), 103–112 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1385/CBB:40:3:109

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