Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine

Cell Replacement Therapy For Diabetes Scholarly Journal

Replacing the insulin-producing pancreatic islet β cells represents the ultimate type 1 diabetes treatment. Recent progress in cell replacement therapy underlines the pressing need to develop alternatives to scarce human tissue donors. The proliferation of differentiated β cells by reversible immortalisation and the development of insulin-producing cells from embryonic or adult stem cells are two potential strategies. It is likely that new insights into the development of endocrine pancreas will eventually lead to the manipulation of progenitor-cell fate towards the insulin production, storage and regulated secretion phenotype of β-cell. Both allogeneic and autologous surrogate β cells may require protection against recurrent autoimmunity. This protection could take the form of immuno-protective gene toleration, cell encapsulation, or cell engineering and cell replacement therapy.    

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