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Basics and applications of stem cells in the pancreas

  • Topics
  • Stem cells in the Hepato-Biliary-Pancreas
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Journal of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Sciences

Abstract

Enormous efforts have been made to establish pancreatic stem/progenitor cells as a source for regenerative medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In recent years, it has been recognized that the self-renewal of beta cells is the dominant process involved in postnatal beta-cell regeneration and expansion. Nevertheless, several in-vitro studies have suggested that ductal or as yet unidentified cells are candidates for pancreatic stem/progenitor cells that can differentiate into multilineage cells, including insulin+ cells. The question remains as to whether beta cells are generated postnatally from stem/progenitor cells other than pre-existing beta cells. Furthermore, mutated pancreatic stem cells are considered to be prospective candidates for cancer stem cells or tumor-initiating cells. This review highlights recent progress in pancreatic stem/progenitor cell research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Regenerative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 236-0004, Japan

    Keisuke Sekine & Hideki Taniguchi

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  1. Keisuke Sekine
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  2. Hideki Taniguchi
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Correspondence to Hideki Taniguchi.

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Sekine, K., Taniguchi, H. Basics and applications of stem cells in the pancreas. J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Sci 19, 594–599 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00534-012-0545-3

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