β-cell replacement sources for type 1 diabetes: a focus on pancreatic ductal cells.

ABSTRACT: Thorough research on the capacity of human islet transplantation to cure type 1 diabetes led to the achievement of 3- to 5-year-long insulin independence in nearly half of transplanted patients. Yet, translation of this technique to clinical routine is limited by organ shortage and the need for long-term immunosuppression, restricting its use to adults with unstable disease. The production of new bona fide β cells in vitro was thus investigated and finally achieved with human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). Besides ethical concerns about the use of human embryos, studies are now evaluating the possibility of circumventing the spontaneous tumor formation associated with transplantation of PSCs. These issues fueled the search for cell candidates for β-cell engineering with safe profiles for c

SUBMITTER: Corritore E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4973405 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature