New tools for experimental diabetes research: Cellular reprogramming and genome editing

  • Timo Otonkoski Research Programs Unit, Molecular Neurology and Biomedicum Stem Cell Center, University of Helsinki, Children’s Hospital; and Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
Keywords: Diabetes, islet transplantation, molecular biology

Abstract

Isolated human islets are a rare and precious material for diabetes research. However, their availability is limited, and it is impossible to obtain them from patients with specific genotypes. Human pluripotent stem cells provide an alternative. Induced pluripotent stem cells can be generated from any individual’s somatic cells and differentiated into pancreatic cells. Currently, this approach is limited by the immaturity of the islet-like cells derived from stem cells. However, this approach can already be used to model developmental defects, and the possibilities for studying insulin secretion are continuously improving. In addition, genome editing using the CRISPR/Cas9 technology provides powerful possibilities to study the impact of specific genotypes. The same technology can also be used for transcriptional regulation in order to improve the functional maturation of stem cell-derived islets. These tools are today becoming available for tomorrow’s translational diabetes research.

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Published
2016-03-23
How to Cite
Otonkoski T. (2016). New tools for experimental diabetes research: Cellular reprogramming and genome editing. Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences, 121(2), 146–150. https://doi.org/10.3109/03009734.2016.1149529