In vitro differentiation of mouse stem cells into insulin-secreting cells for diabetes therapy

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by elevated blood glucose levels resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both resulting in impaired function in carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism. Stem cells have a remarkable potential to develop into many different specialized cells in the body. Serving as a sort of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to repletion other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive. These cells can under the right conditions, be grown and expanded indefinitely in this unspecialized state and then be directed to give different types of specialized cells.