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Tissue Renewal without Stem Cells

Tissue 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.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 2026

Optimized Protocol for Generating Functional Pancreatic Insulin-secreting Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Optimized Protocol for Generating Functional Pancreatic Insulin-secreting Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: February 2, 2024

Generating β cells from stem cells-the story so far.

Matthias Hebrok¹

¹Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA. mhebrok@diabetes.ucsf.edu

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine

|June 8, 2012

Summary

Generating functional beta cells from stem cells offers a promising future for treating diabetes. This approach could overcome the limitations of current treatments and provide a renewable source for restoring normal blood sugar levels.

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Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Insulin-Producing Islet Clusters

Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Insulin-Producing Islet Clusters

Published on: June 23, 2023

Area of Science:

Stem cell biology
Endocrinology
Regenerative medicine

Background:

Current treatments for diabetes, including islet transplantation, face limitations due to the scarcity of insulin-producing beta cells.
Achieving long-term normoglycemia in diabetic patients remains a significant clinical challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the potential of stem cell-derived beta cells as a renewable source for diabetes treatment.
To address the limitations of current therapeutic strategies for diabetes management.

Main Methods:

Utilizing advances in stem cell biology to generate mature beta cells.
Investigating the differentiation of uncommitted progenitor cells, including human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells.

Main Results:

Stem cell biology has advanced significantly, making the generation of fully matured beta cells increasingly achievable.
This research highlights the potential for creating a renewable source of insulin-producing cells.

Conclusions:

Generation of functional beta cells from pluripotent stem cells represents a viable future strategy for treating diabetes.
Stem cell-derived beta cells could overcome the critical shortage of donor islets, offering a more sustainable therapeutic option.