Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Into Pancreatic Beta-Cell Precursors in a 2D Culture System
10:12

Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Into Pancreatic Beta-Cell Precursors in a 2D Culture System

Published on: December 16, 2021

3.2K

(Re)generating Human Beta Cells: Status, Pitfalls, and Perspectives

Luc Baeyens1, Marie Lemper1, Willem Staels1

  • 1Beta Cell Neogenesis (BENE), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels , Belgium ; Diabetes Center, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, and Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco , San Francisco, California ; Genentech Safety Assessment, South San Francisco, California ; Investigative Toxicology, UCB BioPharma, Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium ; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Ghent University, Hospital and Department of Pediatrics and Genetics , Ghent , Belgium ; Department of Endocrinology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels , Belgium ; and Department of Endocrinology, Algemeen Stedelijk Ziekenhuis Aalst, Aalst, Belgium.

Physiological Reviews
|May 3, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Generating new human beta cells is key to curing diabetes. This review explores methods for creating beta cells in vitro or in situ to overcome transplant limitations and address underlying defects.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Regenerative Medicine
  • Diabetes Research

Background:

  • Diabetes mellitus stems from impaired insulin production by pancreatic beta cells, leading to disturbed glucose homeostasis.
  • Current treatments manage symptoms but don't resolve underlying beta cell dysfunction or prevent long-term hyperglycemia complications.
  • Beta cell replacement via islet transplantation is limited by donor scarcity and immune rejection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current strategies for generating human beta cells.
  • To explore methods for in vitro and in situ beta cell generation.
  • To highlight the potential of beta cell generation for a curative diabetes therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of scientific literature on human beta cell generation.
  • Analysis of in vitro differentiation and in situ replication approaches.
  • Discussion of immunomodulation strategies combined with beta cell replacement.

Main Results:

  • Various methods for generating functional beta cells are under development.
  • In vitro differentiation and in situ replication show promise for scalable beta cell production.
  • Combining beta cell generation with advanced immunomodulation is crucial for therapeutic success.

Conclusions:

  • Developing practical methods for human beta cell generation is essential for a curative diabetes treatment.
  • Successful beta cell generation could overcome limitations of current therapies and transplantation.
  • Future strategies must integrate beta cell generation with effective immunomodulation to achieve long-term diabetes remission.

More Related Videos

Generation of Human CD40-activated B cells13:27

Generation of Human CD40-activated B cells

Published on: October 16, 2009

15.8K
Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for the Generation of Tumor Antigen-specific T Cells10:57

Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for the Generation of Tumor Antigen-specific T Cells

Published on: October 24, 2019

10.9K

Related Concept Videos

Psychodynamic Perspectives on Personality01:27

Psychodynamic Perspectives on Personality

The psychodynamic perspective in psychology asserts that most personality functions operate unconsciously, outside of awareness. This means that the motives and emotions driving behavior often remain hidden, automatically buried in the unconscious mind as a defense mechanism to shield us from psychological distress. According to this theory, the unconscious mind contains thoughts, memories, and emotions that are too disturbing to face directly.
Psychodynamic theorists argue that unconscious...
1.6K
Social Cognitive Perspective on Personality01:30

Social Cognitive Perspective on Personality

Social cognitive perspectives on personality emphasize the importance of conscious awareness, beliefs, expectations, and goals in shaping behavior. These perspectives incorporate behaviorist principles, such as learning through reinforcement and conditioning, but extend beyond them by highlighting human reasoning and planning. Unlike traditional behaviorist views, social cognitive theory focuses on how individuals reflect on their past experiences and plan for future outcomes by considering...
1.0K
Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective01:23

Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective

In a study where individuals posing as strangers offered compliments and proposed casual sex to students, the responses differed significantly based on gender. Not a single woman accepted the proposal, while 70% of the men agreed. This outcome provides a useful scenario to explore through the lens of evolutionary psychology and social learning theory, highlighting the diverse perspectives on human sexual behaviors.
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
377
The Behavioral Perspective on Personality01:19

The Behavioral Perspective on Personality

Behaviorists view personality as primarily shaped by environmental reinforcements and consequences. According to this perspective, behavior is influenced by external stimuli, and individuals adjust their actions based on rewards and punishments. Over time, learning histories — accumulated patterns of reinforcement — play a significant role in shaping personality. Behaviors that lead to positive outcomes are reinforced, while those resulting in negative outcomes are diminished.
846
Marcia's Theory of Identity Status01:26

Marcia's Theory of Identity Status

James Marcia's identity status model provides a framework for understanding how adolescents navigate identity formation through varying degrees of exploration and commitment. Marcia's model builds on Erik Erikson's theories of psychosocial development, focusing specifically on how adolescents reconcile individual aspirations with societal expectations. His model describes identity formation as a dynamic process where adolescents move between different states depending on their level...
1.7K
Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives01:14

Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives

The first thing a clinician sees is the skin, so the examination of the skin should be part of any thorough physical examination. Most skin disorders are relatively benign, but a few, including melanomas, can be fatal if untreated. A couple of the more noticeable disorders, albinism and vitiligo, affect the appearance of the skin and its accessory organs.
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...
3.7K