β-cell transplantation in diabetes mellitus

Patients with diabetes mellitus suffer either from destruction of pancreatic β-cells or progressive deterioration of their function. Thus, transplantation of an intact β-cell population fully capable of insulin secretion is the only means to cure this disease. Despite glycemic benefits and decrease in risks for late complications, islet transplantation or complete pancreatic grafting in humans remains a challenge due to necessity of lifetime immunosuppression and increasingly sparse donor resources. Current paper presents a review of modern endeavours to obtain a limitless source for glucose-sensitive insulin secreting cells. We discuss, in particular, complex aspects of β-cell proliferation and/or neogenesis in vivo, issues with xenogenous pancreatic islets, and latest advances in controlled differentiation of embryonic and induced polypotent stem cells - the most promising and relevant source of β-cells.