Reprogramming cells to make insulin

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes is a disease characterized by the destruction of insulin-secreting ß-cells in the pancreas. Individuals are treated for this disease with lifelong insulin replacement. However, one attractive treatment possibility is to reprogram an individual's endogenous cells to acquire the ability to secrete insulin, essentially replacing destroyed ß-cells. Herein, we review the literature on the topic of reprogramming endodermal cells to produce insulin.