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Updated: Jun 13, 2025

Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Into Pancreatic Beta-Cell Precursors in a 2D Culture System
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β-Cell Heterogeneity and Plasticity.

Hyo Jeong Yong1, Yue J Wang2

  • 1Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.

Advances in Anatomy, Embryology, and Cell Biology
|September 16, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Pancreatic beta cells exhibit functional diversity and plasticity, adapting to environmental challenges to maintain glucose homeostasis. Diabetes disrupts this balance, increasing beta cell stress and heterogeneity, impacting insulin secretion.

Keywords:
DiabetesHeterogeneityIslet of LangerhansPancreasPlasticityβ cells

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Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Cell Biology
  • Metabolic Research

Background:

  • Pancreatic beta cells are functionally diverse and plastic, a concept recognized since the 1980s.
  • Recent advancements in high-resolution technologies have deepened the understanding of beta cell heterogeneity and plasticity.
  • Beta cell plasticity refers to dynamic changes in cellular phenotypes, while heterogeneity encompasses differences in cellular behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To define and assess beta cell stress and its role in diabetes.
  • To explore adaptive beta cell responses including proliferation, dedifferentiation, maturity, and insulin secretion.
  • To discuss the characteristics of distinct beta cell subgroups and the plasticity of other pancreatic cells.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent high-resolution technologies for studying beta cell function.
  • Assessment of beta cell stress and its impact on heterogeneity.
  • Analysis of adaptive beta cell responses and subgroup characteristics.

Main Results:

  • Individual beta cells respond differently to environmental challenges, contributing to overall homeostasis.
  • Diabetes progression disrupts beta cell balance, leading to increased stress and heterogeneity.
  • Adaptive responses like proliferation and changes in insulin secretion are observed.

Conclusions:

  • Beta cell heterogeneity and plasticity are crucial for maintaining glucose homeostasis (70-140 mg/dL).
  • Diabetes-induced stress exacerbates beta cell heterogeneity and impairs compensatory mechanisms.
  • Understanding beta cell plasticity and non-beta cell cooperation is vital for managing diabetes.