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What Does It Take to Make a Beta Cell?

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Stem Cell Therapy for Diabetes

Part of the book series: Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine ((STEMCELL))

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Abstract

As diabetes with its devastating complications results from β-cell deficiency, there is a compelling need to know more about the culprit. Whereas type 1 diabetes has a near complete loss of β cells owing to autoimmune destruction, type 2 diabetes is associated with a 40–60% reduction in β-cell mass. Insulin resistance, brought on by our Western lifestyle coupled with genetic factors, is clearly of major importance, but diabetes only develops when β-cell deficiency with its associated dysfunctional insulin secretion occurs. Replenishment of β cells by transplantation or by stimulating regeneration of endogenous islets would eliminate the diabetic state. Improving the dysfunctional insulin secretion of diabetes could also provide help. This chapter is written with an eye toward how β cells, or some kind of β-cell surrogate, might function when transplanted. It is important to understand β cells in their normal pancreatic environment to fully appreciate the compromises that will necessarily accompany β-cell replacement therapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Division, Section on Islet Transplantation and Cell Biology, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Joslin Diabetes Center, 02215, Boston, MA, USA

    Gordon C. Weir & Susan Bonner-Weir

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  1. Gordon C. Weir
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  2. Susan Bonner-Weir
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Correspondence to Gordon C. Weir .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel

    Shimon Efrat

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Weir, G.C., Bonner-Weir, S. (2010). What Does It Take to Make a Beta Cell?. In: Efrat, S. (eds) Stem Cell Therapy for Diabetes. Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-366-4_6

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