New sources of beta-cells for treating diabetes

The treatment of diabetes by islet transplantation is presently hampered by the shortage of organ donors. The generation of insulin-producing cells is therefore a major objective in the long-term goal of curing diabetes. Alternative sources of pancreatic beta-cells include existing pancreatic cells, embryonic stem cells, and cells from other tissues such as liver. This commentary considers evidence for two new sources of beta-cells: intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells and gall bladder epithelium. These observations raise the possibility that a patient's own cells may be used as a source of insulin-producing cells for cell replacement in diabetes.