In vivo reprogramming of adult pancreatic exocrine cells to β-cells

In this paper, the authors have described a strategy for cellular reprogramming of adult pancreatic exocrine cells to β-Cells by re-expressing key three embryonic transcription factors(Ngn3 (also known as Neurog3) Pdx1 and Mafa) which regulates the fate of embryonic cellular differentiation. The induced β-cells are indistinguishable from endogenous islet β-cells in size, shape and ultrastructure. They express genes essential for β-cell function and can ameliorate hyperglycaemia by remodelling local vasculature and secreting insulin. This study provides an example of cellular reprogramming using defined factors in an adult organ and suggests a general paradigm for directing cell reprogramming without reversion to a pluripotent stem cell state and can be useful in regenerative medicine for repairing of damage or diseased tissues.

The full-length article can be obtained from-http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v455/n7213/abs/nature07314.html