The journey of islet organoid transplantation: past, present and future
10.3760/cma.j.cn421203-20240910-00189
- VernacularTitle:胰岛类器官移植的"前世与今生"
- Author:
Ziyuan ZENG
1
;
Xue WANG
;
Kai WANG
;
Shusen WANG
;
Xi WANG
Author Information
1. 北京大学第三医院妇产科，临床干细胞研究中心，女性生育力促进全国重点实验室，北京 100191
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Islet transplantation;
Islet organoid;
Diabetes mellitus;
Cell transplantation
- From:
Chinese Journal of Organ Transplantation
2025;46(7):538-545
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder, currently affecting more than 530 million people worldwide. Based on differences in pathogenesis, it is classified into type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). T1DM is primarily caused by autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β cells, whereas T2DM results from insulin resistance due to β cell failure and dysfunction. Current treatments for diabetes include insulin injections, oral medications, and islet transplantation. As a curative therapy, islet transplantation still faces challenges such as limited donor cell availability, systemic immunosuppression-related side effects, and low long-term survival of transplanted islets. Transplantation of stem cell-derived islet organoids is expected to replace primary human islet cells and overcome these issues, making it one of the most promising therapies for T1DM and advanced-stage T2DM. This review provides an in-depth overview of the development of islet transplantation, with a focus on recent progress in stem cell differentiation into islet organoids and the engineering of islet organoids. Meanwhile, we also discuss the current opportunities and future challenges in islet organoid transplantation. These explorations and efforts lay the groundwork for future clinical applications and offer hope for a potential cure for diabetes.
