Pancreatic islet regeneration : therapeutic potential, unknowns and controversy
Date
2015-07-27
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Academy of Science of South Africa
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Glucose homeostasis in mammals is primarily maintained by the insulin-secreting β-cells contained within
pancreas-resident islets of Langerhans. Gross disruption of this glucose regulation as a result of pancreatic
dysfunction frequently results in diabetes, which is currently a major health concern in South Africa, as
well as globally. For many years, researchers have realised that the pancreas, and specifically the islets of
Langerhans, have a regenerative capacity, as islet mass has frequently been shown to increase following
induced pancreatic injury. Given that gross β-cell loss contributes significantly to the pathogenesis of both
type 1 and type 2 diabetes, endogenous pancreatic islet regeneration has been investigated extensively as
a potential β-cell replacement therapy for diabetes. From the extensive research conducted on pancreatic
regeneration, opposing findings and opinions have arisen as to how, and more recently even if, pancreatic
regeneration occurs following induced injury. In this review, we outline and discuss the three primary
mechanisms by which pancreatic regeneration is proposed to occur: neogenesis, β-cell replication and
transdifferentiation. We further explain some of the advanced techniques used in pancreatic regeneration
research, and conclude that despite the technologically advanced research tools available to researchers
today, the mechanisms governing pancreatic regeneration may remain elusive until more powerful
techniques are developed to allow for real-time, live-cell assessment of morphology and gene expression
within the pancreas.
Description
CITATION: Cockburn, I. L. & Ferris, W. F. 2015. Pancreatic islet regeneration : therapeutic potential, unknowns and controversy. South African Journal of Science, 111(7/8),
Art. #2014-0369, doi:10.17159/sajs.2015/20140369.
The original publication is available at http://sajs.co.za
The original publication is available at http://sajs.co.za
Keywords
Diabetes, Islets of Langerhans, Beta cells, Neogenesis, Pancreatic islets, Glucose -- Homeostasis
Citation
Cockburn, I. L. & Ferris, W. F. 2015. Pancreatic islet regeneration : therapeutic potential, unknowns and controversy. South African Journal of Science, 111(7/8),
Art. #2014-0369, doi:10.17159/sajs.2015/20140369.