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Updated: May 21, 2026

Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Insulin-Producing Islet Clusters
Published on: June 23, 2023
Transdifferentiation of hepatic oval cells into pancreatic islet beta-cells
Ying Li1, Li-Juan Zhao, Fang-Zhen Xia
1Institute and Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism of Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Abstract:
Insulin production by beta-cells derived from hepatic oval cells is a promising new approach for the treatment of diabetes. Hepatic oval cells can be redirected to the beta-cell linage by an appropriate combination of high extracellular glucose, specific extracellular matrix proteins (laminin and fibronectin), cytokines (activin A), and the expression of several differentiation-related transcription factors (Pdx-1, Ngn-3, MafA). We explore the process of hepatic oval cell transdifferentiation into pancreatic islet beta-cells and the cellular signaling pathways involved.
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