Generation of islets of Langerhans from adult pancreatic stem cells.

Ductal structures of the adult pancreas contain multipotent stem cells that, under controlled in vitro conditions, are able to self-renew and differentiate into functional islets of Langerhans. In vitro-generated islets, whether derived from stem cells of human, porcine, or mouse origin, exhibit temporal changes in mRNA transcripts for islet-associated markers as well as regulated insulin responses following glucose challenge. When in vitro-generated mouse islets were implanted into diabetic mice, neovascularization of the implant material occurred, followed by reversal of insulin-dependent diabetes. The possibility of growing functional islets from adult stem cells provides new opportunities to produce large numbers of islets, even autologous islets, for use as implants.