Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026
12:20
Analysis of Hematopoietic Stem Progenitor Cell Metabolism
Published on: November 9, 2019
Stem cells and metabolic diseases.
Andreia S Bernardo1, Kevin Docherty
1School of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK. a.bernardo@stemcells.cam.ac.uk
Biochemical Society Transactions
|May 17, 2008
Summary
Understanding adult stem cells in pancreatic beta-cells and adipocyte biology is crucial for developing new treatments for obesity and Type 2 diabetes. This research explores stem cell roles in metabolic health.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic disorders
- Stem cell biology
- Diabetes research
Background:
- Obesity is a global epidemic metabolic disorder linked to insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes.
- Understanding pancreatic beta-cell maintenance and adipocyte biology is key to treating these conditions.
- Adult stem cells play a critical role in maintaining tissue homeostasis under metabolic stress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how pancreatic adult stem cells maintain beta-cell pools during obesity.
- To investigate the biology of adipocyte formation, maintenance, and deposition in obesity.
- To identify potential therapeutic targets for diabetes and obesity by studying stem cell differentiation.
Main Methods:
- Investigating the function of adipocyte stem cells in various fat depots.
- Analyzing the contribution of stem cells to brown and white adipocytes.
- Studying human embryonic stem cell differentiation into pancreatic and adipocyte lineages.
Main Results:
- Research focuses on the functional roles of stem cells in metabolic regulation.
- Studies aim to elucidate mechanisms of adipogenesis and beta-cell regeneration.
- The differentiation potential of stem cells offers insights into therapeutic strategies.
Conclusions:
- Further understanding of stem cell mechanisms in obesity and diabetes is essential.
- Targeting stem cell pathways may lead to novel treatments for metabolic diseases.
- Research into adipocyte and pancreatic stem cells holds promise for combating obesity and diabetes.
More Related Videos
10:17Assessment of Cellular Bioenergetics in Mouse Hematopoietic Stem and Primitive Progenitor Cells using the Extracellular Flux Analyzer
Published on: September 24, 2021
10:31Robust Differentiation of Human iPSCs into a Pure Population of Adipocytes to Study Adipocyte-Associated Disorders
Published on: February 9, 2022
Related Concept Videos
01:21EPS and iPS Cells in Disease Research
Embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells are excellent models for disease research because of their ability to self-renew and differentiate into most cell types. Somatic cells from a patient are isolated and reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells or iPSCs. These iPSCs are later differentiated into the desired cell type, which mirrors the diseased cell of the patient. In this way, disease models have been created for investigating diseases such as Down syndrome, type I diabetes,...
01:17Stem Cell Culture
Stem cell research aims to find ways to use stem cells to regenerate and repair cellular damage. Over time, most adult cells undergo the wear and tear of aging and lose their ability to divide and repair themselves. Stem cells do not display a particular morphology or function. Adult stem cells, which exist as a small subset of cells in most tissues, keep dividing and can differentiate into a number of specialized cells generally formed by that tissue. These cells enable the body to renew and...
01:23Tissue Renewal without Stem Cells
After cellular or tissue damage, the resident stem cells present in the human body can locally repair and regenerate the damaged tissue or organ. However, even though some tissues do not have stem cells, they can repair and regenerate with the help of pre-existing cells. For example, beta cells of the pancreas and hepatocytes of the liver can divide to renew and regenerate the tissue. Here, both cell division and cell death are well regulated by homeostasis.
However, failure of such a system...
However, failure of such a system...
01:19Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells that can differentiate into most connective tissue cell types, except for hematopoietic cells, depending upon the source of MSCs. For example, bone-marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) can differentiate into osteocytes, hepatocytes, and pancreatic and neuronal cells. MSCs can be isolated from various sources such as bone marrow, placenta, adipose tissue, teeth, and Wharton’s jelly, a gelatinous substance in the umbilical cord. The ease of their access...
01:22iPS Cell Differentiation
The ability of induced pluripotent stem cells or iPSCs to differentiate into most body cell types has stimulated repair and regenerative medicine research over the past few decades. iPSC-derived blood cells, hepatocytes, beta islet cells, cardiomyocytes, neurons, and other cell types can repair injuries or regenerate damaged tissue in diseases such as diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders.
00:58Embryonic Stem Cells
Embryonic stem (ES) cells are undifferentiated pluripotent cells, meaning they can produce any cell type in the body. This gives them tremendous potential in science and medicine since they can generate specific cell types for use in research or to replace body cells lost due to damage or disease.