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Islet Precursor Cells in Adult Pancreatic Islets

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Stem Cells in Endocrinology

Part of the book series: Contemporary Endocrinology ((COE))

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Abstract

The search for new sources of β cells is driven by the shortage of islets of Langerhans suitable for replacement therapy for type I diabetes. Recent advances in stem cell research, described in other sections of this book, have led to promising sources of insulin-producing cells (1–5). In addition, significant progress in the elucidation of the molecular program that guides the differentiation of islet cells during development (6–22) will certainly provide tools to expand the population of embryonic β-precursor cells and promote their differentiation into mature, insulin-producing cells. The adult pancreas is another potential source of β-precursor cells. The existence of islet progenitor cells in mature pancreas can be inferred from the fact that new islets are normally formed during postnatal life (23,24) and that a dramatic increase in islet number occurs in response to various stimuli (25–27). The presence of “endocrine stem/progenitor cells” could not only provide a source of cells suitable for transplantation, but also could replenish the β-cell population that has been depleted by injury or disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Downstate Medical Center, SUNY, Brooklyn, NY

    Gladys Teitelman PhD & Irem Nasir PhD

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  1. Gladys Teitelman PhD
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  2. Irem Nasir PhD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, Oregon

    Linda B. Lester MS, MD

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© 2005 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Teitelman, G., Nasir, I. (2005). Islet Precursor Cells in Adult Pancreatic Islets. In: Lester, L.B. (eds) Stem Cells in Endocrinology. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-900-1:115

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-900-1:115

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-407-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-900-4

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