Towards a Functional Cure for Diabetes Using Stem Cell-Derived Beta Cells: Are We There Yet?
Diabetes mellitus is a pandemic metabolic disorder that results from either the autoimmune destruction or the dysfunction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. A promising cure is beta cell replacement through the transplantation of islets of Langerhans. However, donor shortage hinders the wid...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Cells |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/1/191 |
| _version_ | 1811153687848943616 |
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| author | Stephanie Bourgeois Toshiaki Sawatani Annelore Van Mulders Nico De Leu Yves Heremans Harry Heimberg Miriam Cnop Willem Staels |
| author_facet | Stephanie Bourgeois Toshiaki Sawatani Annelore Van Mulders Nico De Leu Yves Heremans Harry Heimberg Miriam Cnop Willem Staels |
| author_sort | Stephanie Bourgeois |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Diabetes mellitus is a pandemic metabolic disorder that results from either the autoimmune destruction or the dysfunction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. A promising cure is beta cell replacement through the transplantation of islets of Langerhans. However, donor shortage hinders the widespread implementation of this therapy. Human pluripotent stem cells, including embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, represent an attractive alternative beta cell source for transplantation. Although major advances over the past two decades have led to the generation of stem cell-derived beta-like cells that share many features with genuine beta cells, producing fully mature beta cells remains challenging. Here, we review the current status of beta cell differentiation protocols and highlight specific challenges that are associated with producing mature beta cells. We address the challenges and opportunities that are offered by monogenic forms of diabetes. Finally, we discuss the remaining hurdles for clinical application of stem cell-derived beta cells and the status of ongoing clinical trials. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:20:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eedeb29f275b4f069ce6af802ec7c1b3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:20:31Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj.art-eedeb29f275b4f069ce6af802ec7c1b32023-12-03T13:48:58ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092021-01-0110119110.3390/cells10010191Towards a Functional Cure for Diabetes Using Stem Cell-Derived Beta Cells: Are We There Yet?Stephanie Bourgeois0Toshiaki Sawatani1Annelore Van Mulders2Nico De Leu3Yves Heremans4Harry Heimberg5Miriam Cnop6Willem Staels7Beta Cell Neogenesis (BENE) Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1090 Brussels, BelgiumULB Center for Diabetes Research, Medical Faculty, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, BelgiumBeta Cell Neogenesis (BENE) Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1090 Brussels, BelgiumBeta Cell Neogenesis (BENE) Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1090 Brussels, BelgiumBeta Cell Neogenesis (BENE) Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1090 Brussels, BelgiumBeta Cell Neogenesis (BENE) Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1090 Brussels, BelgiumULB Center for Diabetes Research, Medical Faculty, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, BelgiumBeta Cell Neogenesis (BENE) Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1090 Brussels, BelgiumDiabetes mellitus is a pandemic metabolic disorder that results from either the autoimmune destruction or the dysfunction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. A promising cure is beta cell replacement through the transplantation of islets of Langerhans. However, donor shortage hinders the widespread implementation of this therapy. Human pluripotent stem cells, including embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, represent an attractive alternative beta cell source for transplantation. Although major advances over the past two decades have led to the generation of stem cell-derived beta-like cells that share many features with genuine beta cells, producing fully mature beta cells remains challenging. Here, we review the current status of beta cell differentiation protocols and highlight specific challenges that are associated with producing mature beta cells. We address the challenges and opportunities that are offered by monogenic forms of diabetes. Finally, we discuss the remaining hurdles for clinical application of stem cell-derived beta cells and the status of ongoing clinical trials.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/1/191beta cellscell therapystem cells |
| spellingShingle | Stephanie Bourgeois Toshiaki Sawatani Annelore Van Mulders Nico De Leu Yves Heremans Harry Heimberg Miriam Cnop Willem Staels Towards a Functional Cure for Diabetes Using Stem Cell-Derived Beta Cells: Are We There Yet? Cells beta cells cell therapy stem cells |
| title | Towards a Functional Cure for Diabetes Using Stem Cell-Derived Beta Cells: Are We There Yet? |
| title_full | Towards a Functional Cure for Diabetes Using Stem Cell-Derived Beta Cells: Are We There Yet? |
| title_fullStr | Towards a Functional Cure for Diabetes Using Stem Cell-Derived Beta Cells: Are We There Yet? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Towards a Functional Cure for Diabetes Using Stem Cell-Derived Beta Cells: Are We There Yet? |
| title_short | Towards a Functional Cure for Diabetes Using Stem Cell-Derived Beta Cells: Are We There Yet? |
| title_sort | towards a functional cure for diabetes using stem cell derived beta cells are we there yet |
| topic | beta cells cell therapy stem cells |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/10/1/191 |
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