Recent advances in pancreatic α-cell transdifferentiation for diabetes therapy
As the global prevalence of diabetes mellitus rises, traditional treatments like insulin therapy and oral hypoglycemic agents often fail to achieve optimal glycemic control, leading to severe complications. Recent research has focused on replenishing pancreatic β-cells through the transdifferentiati...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1551372/full |
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| author | Yanjiao Li Yanjiao Li Jinyu Zhu Congyang Yue Siyuan Song Limin Tian Yi Wang Yi Wang Yi Wang |
| author_facet | Yanjiao Li Yanjiao Li Jinyu Zhu Congyang Yue Siyuan Song Limin Tian Yi Wang Yi Wang Yi Wang |
| author_sort | Yanjiao Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | As the global prevalence of diabetes mellitus rises, traditional treatments like insulin therapy and oral hypoglycemic agents often fail to achieve optimal glycemic control, leading to severe complications. Recent research has focused on replenishing pancreatic β-cells through the transdifferentiation of α-cells, offering a promising therapeutic avenue. This review explores the molecular mechanisms underlying α-cell to β-cell transdifferentiation, emphasizing key transcription factors such as Dnmt1, Arx, Pdx1, MafA, and Nkx6.1. The potential clinical applications, especially in type 1 and type 2 diabetes characterized by significant β-cell dysfunction, are addressed. Challenges, including low transdifferentiation efficiency, cell stability, and safety concerns, are also included. Future research directions include optimizing molecular pathways, enhancing transdifferentiation efficiency, and ensuring the long-term stability of β-cell identity. Overall, the ability to convert α-cells into β-cells represents a transformative strategy for diabetes treatment, offering hope for more effective and sustainable therapies for patients with severe β-cell loss. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c00a045485f44dfc96c40c9a1df434b4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-3224 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Immunology |
| spelling | doaj-art-c00a045485f44dfc96c40c9a1df434b42025-01-22T07:12:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-01-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15513721551372Recent advances in pancreatic α-cell transdifferentiation for diabetes therapyYanjiao Li0Yanjiao Li1Jinyu Zhu2Congyang Yue3Siyuan Song4Limin Tian5Yi Wang6Yi Wang7Yi Wang8Department of Pharmacy, Qionglai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaClinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaCenter for Geriatrics and Endocrinology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaCenter for Geriatrics and Endocrinology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United StatesCenter for Geriatrics and Endocrinology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaClinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaCenter for Geriatrics and Endocrinology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaCenter for Critical Care Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaAs the global prevalence of diabetes mellitus rises, traditional treatments like insulin therapy and oral hypoglycemic agents often fail to achieve optimal glycemic control, leading to severe complications. Recent research has focused on replenishing pancreatic β-cells through the transdifferentiation of α-cells, offering a promising therapeutic avenue. This review explores the molecular mechanisms underlying α-cell to β-cell transdifferentiation, emphasizing key transcription factors such as Dnmt1, Arx, Pdx1, MafA, and Nkx6.1. The potential clinical applications, especially in type 1 and type 2 diabetes characterized by significant β-cell dysfunction, are addressed. Challenges, including low transdifferentiation efficiency, cell stability, and safety concerns, are also included. Future research directions include optimizing molecular pathways, enhancing transdifferentiation efficiency, and ensuring the long-term stability of β-cell identity. Overall, the ability to convert α-cells into β-cells represents a transformative strategy for diabetes treatment, offering hope for more effective and sustainable therapies for patients with severe β-cell loss.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1551372/fulldiabetespancreatic α-cellsβ-cell transdifferentiationtranscription factorsinsulin secretionclinical applications |
| spellingShingle | Yanjiao Li Yanjiao Li Jinyu Zhu Congyang Yue Siyuan Song Limin Tian Yi Wang Yi Wang Yi Wang Recent advances in pancreatic α-cell transdifferentiation for diabetes therapy Frontiers in Immunology diabetes pancreatic α-cells β-cell transdifferentiation transcription factors insulin secretion clinical applications |
| title | Recent advances in pancreatic α-cell transdifferentiation for diabetes therapy |
| title_full | Recent advances in pancreatic α-cell transdifferentiation for diabetes therapy |
| title_fullStr | Recent advances in pancreatic α-cell transdifferentiation for diabetes therapy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recent advances in pancreatic α-cell transdifferentiation for diabetes therapy |
| title_short | Recent advances in pancreatic α-cell transdifferentiation for diabetes therapy |
| title_sort | recent advances in pancreatic α cell transdifferentiation for diabetes therapy |
| topic | diabetes pancreatic α-cells β-cell transdifferentiation transcription factors insulin secretion clinical applications |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1551372/full |
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