Abstract

Insulin-producing beta cells are lost or insufficient in diabetic patients, presenting the medical challenge for new beta cells. Currently, there are three strategies that offer promise. One involves the generation of beta cells de novo by directing the differentiation of either embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent cells to the beta cell lineage. The second is based on the conversion of another terminally differentiated cell to beta cells in a process called reprogramming. The third approach is to promote the replication of existing beta cells either in vivo or in vitro. Significant progress is evident for each strategy, but it remains unclear which approach will ultimately prove successful.