What is a β cell? – Chapter I in the Human Islet Research Network (HIRN) review series
Klaus H. Kaestner, Martha Campbell‐Thompson, Yuval Dor, Ronald G. Gill, Benjamin Gläser, Seung K. Kim, Maike Sander, Cherie L. Stabler, Andrew F. Stewart, Alvin C. Powers
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The pancreatic β cell, as the sole source of the vital hormone insulin, has been under intensive study for more than a century. Given the potential of newly created insulin-producing cells as a treatment or even cure of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and possibly in severe cases of type 2 diabetes (T2D), multiple academic and commercial laboratories are working to derive surrogate glucose-responsive, insulin-producing cells. SCOPE OF REVIEW: The recent development of advanced phenotyping technologies, including molecular, epigenomic, histological, or functional, have greatly improved our understanding of the critical properties of human β cells. Using this information, here we summarize the salient features of normal, fully functional adult human β cells, and propose minimal criteria for what should rightfully be termed 'β cells' as opposed to insulin-producing but not fully-functional surrogates that we propose should be referred to as 'β-like' cells or insulin-producing cells. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS: Clear criteria can be established to differentiate fully functional, mature β cells from 'β-like' surrogates. In addition, we outline important knowledge gaps that must be addressed to enable a greater understanding of the β cell.