Pancreatic Stem Cells

From the discovery of Pdx1, the first “master gene” of pancreatic development, to the most recent findings on the role of microRNAs in beta cell homeostasis, the last fifteen years have seen an unprecedented advance in our understanding of the precise development and organization of the many different cell types that make up the pancreas. It is now widely acknowledged that the therapeutic differentiation of stem cells into pancreatic cells is an ambitious endeavor that will not succeed without a thorough understanding of the molecular processes underlying the native development of the organ. This book, aimed at experts and students alike, offers a comprehensive review of the state of the art in both pancreatic development and regeneration. The many strategies to differentiate adult and embryonic stem cells into pancreatic beta cells are also discussed in the context of potential therapeutic interventions for type I diabetes.

• Diabetes
• Pancreas
• Regeneration
• gene transfer
• genes
• homeostasis

From the reviews:

“There are 69 instructive pictures showing the schemes of individual processes and 787 selected up to date references. There are very useful several insertion explaining individual special terms by a simple and instructive way. This small and valuable book containing a number of up to date and prospective information … of great value not only for those who are directly involved in diabetes and related problems, but for all those who like to understand the medicine of the future, including medical students.” (Endocrine Regulations, 2009)

“Part of the series Stem Cell Biology and regenerative Medicine, this book discusses a field of great interest at present. … With 787 references. For research diabetologists.” (Pediatric Endocrinology Reviews, Vol. 8 (2), December, 2010)

• Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami, Miami, U.S.A.

  Juan Domínguez-Bendala

Policies and ethics