Human pluripotent stem cell differentiation to functional pancreatic cells for diabetes therapies: Innovations, challenges and future directions

• Published in: Journal of biological engineering Vol. 11; no. 1; p. 21
• Main Authors: Jacobson, Elena F, Tzanakakis, Emmanuel S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 03.07.2017; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Cell culture; Cell differentiation; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes therapy; Diagnosis; Differentiation (biology); Embryonic stem cells; Embryos; Endocrine cells; Engineering; Enzymes; Exocrine cells; Exosomes; Fibroblasts; Glucose; Growth factors; Homeostasis; Induced pluripotent stem cells; Innovations; Insulin; Insulin resistance; Islet cells; Ligands; Maturation; Medical innovations; Metabolism; Methods; Organogenesis; Pancreas; Pancreatic differentiation; Pluripotency; Pluripotent stem cells; Proteins; Releasing; Review; Rodents; Stem cell transplantation; Stem cells; Studies; Transcription factors; Transplants & implants; Exocrine cells; Induced pluripotent stem cells; Diabetes; Embryonic stem cells; Pancreas; Pancreatic β-cells; Pluripotent stem cells; Pancreatic differentiation; Endocrine cells
• ISSN: 1754-1611; 1754-1611
• DOI: 10.1186/s13036-017-0066-3

Recent advances in the expansion and directed pancreatogenic differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have intensified efforts to generate functional pancreatic islet cells, especially insulin-secreting β-cells, for cell therapies against diabetes. However, the consistent generation of glucose-responsive insulin-releasing cells remains challenging. In this article, we first present basic concepts of pancreatic organogenesis, which frequently serves as a basis for engineering differentiation regimens. Next, past and current efforts are critically discussed for the conversion of hPSCs along pancreatic cell lineages, including endocrine β-cells and α-cells, as well as exocrine cells with emphasis placed on the later stages of commitment. Finally, major challenges and future directions are examined, such as the identification of factors for in vivo maturation, large-scale culture and post processing systems, cell loss during differentiation, culture economics, efficiency, and efficacy and exosomes and miRNAs in pancreatic differentiation.