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Pancreatic Stem Cells (pancreatic + stem_cell)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

Pancreatic stem cells: a therapeutic agent that may offer the best approach for curing type 1 diabetes

PEDIATRIC DIABETES, Issue 4 2001
M Chaudhari
Chaudhari M, Cornelius JG, Schatz D, Peck AB, Ramiya VK. Pancreatic stem cells: a therapeutic agent that may offer the best approach for curing type 1 diabetes. Abstract: Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes is one of the most costly chronic diseases of children and adolescents in North America and Europe. It occurs in genetically predisposed individuals when the immune system attacks and destroys specifically the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. Although routine insulin injections can provide diabetic patients their daily insulin requirements, non-compliance commonly results in blood glucose excursions that eventually lead to microvascular and macrovascular complications and early death. The only real ,cure' for type 1 diabetes is replacement of the beta-cell mass which, today, is either an ectopancreatic transplant or an islet of Langerhans implant. Two new developments may offer additional options: surrogate, non-endocrine cells genetically modified to secrete insulin in response to high blood glucose levels; and stem cells that possess the capacity to differentiate to endocrine pancreas. In this short review, we discuss the efforts currently being made to regulate pancreatic stem cell growth in order to produce large numbers of functional islets that can be used as implants. Hopefully, autologous stem cell-derived islet cell implants without lifelong immunosuppressive therapy may one day be realized. [source]

The role of pdx1 and HNF6 in proliferation and differentiation of endocrine precursors

DIABETES/METABOLISM: RESEARCH AND REVIEWS, Issue 2 2004
Laura Wilding
Abstract Ex vivo expansion of embryonic stem cells (ES cells) or pancreatic stem cells for insulin delivery to diabetic patients provides potential for the restoration of islet function in these individuals. Understanding the spatial and temporal requirements of crucial factors for endocrine progenitor specification, proliferation, and terminal differentiation remains a major challenge in the field of pancreas development. Here, we provide speculation as to the role of pdx1 and HNF6 in these different stages of pancreatic endocrine cell development. At the time when islets begin to form within the pancreas, the expression patterns of pdx1 and HNF6 diverge, suggesting distinct functions for each of the genes over the course of endocrine cell development. The current body of evidence provides support for a role of both factors in early endocrine specification as well as a requirement for pdx1 in the generation of mature pancreatic endocrine cells. The precise temporal requirement of HNF6 in the production of terminally differentiated endocrine cells remains unclear. Future studies in this area will rely on conditionally manipulatable systems in combination with lineage-tracing studies for a more accurate assessment of pdx1 and HNF6 function at different stages along the pathway of endocrine cell development. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Progenitor cells in the adult pancreas

DIABETES/METABOLISM: RESEARCH AND REVIEWS, Issue 1 2004
Andrew M. Holland
Abstract The ,-cell mass in the adult pancreas possesses the ability to undergo limited regeneration following injury. Identifying the progenitor cells involved in this process and understanding the mechanisms leading to their maturation will open new avenues for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. However, despite steady advances in determining the molecular basis of early pancreatic development, the identification of pancreatic stem cells or ,-cell progenitors and the molecular mechanisms underlying ,-cell regeneration remain unclear. Recent advances in the directed differentiation of embryonic and adult stem cells has heightened interest in the possible application of stem cell therapy in the treatment of type 1 diabetes. Drawing on the expanding knowledge of pancreas development, ,-cell regeneration and stem cell research, this review focuses on progenitor cells in the adult pancreas as a potential source of ,-cells. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]