Darla M. Domionius
The failure of the beta-cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans to produce enough insulin to meet the body's needs results in the condition known as diabetes mellitus. In patients with advanced diabetes, whole pancreas or islet transplants successfully restore insulin production. The development of alternate sources of islets, such as ex vivo culture and differentiation of stem/progenitor cells, is necessary due to the shortage of donor pancreata. Previously, it was identified nestin-positive islet-derived progenitor cells (NIPs) as multipotent progenitor cells in adult human pancreatic islets that express the neural stem cell marker nestin. The NIP cells, which are also found in the pancreatic ducts, could play a role in where islet progenitor cells are found. The discovery of NIP cells within the pancreatic islets itself raises the possibility of treating diabetes by expanding NIP cells isolated from pancreas biopsies outside of the recipient or donor body.
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