Stem Cell-Derived β Cells: A Versatile Research Platform to Interrogate the Genetic Basis of β Cell Dysfunction

Abstract

Pancreatic β cell dysfunction is a central component of diabetes progression. During the last decades, the genetic basis of several monogenic forms of diabetes has been recognized. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have also facilitated the identification of common genetic variants associated with an increased risk of diabetes. These studies highlight the importance of impaired β cell function in all forms of diabetes. However, how most of these risk variants confer disease risk, remains unanswered. Understanding the specific contribution of genetic variants and the precise role of their molecular effectors is the next step toward developing treatments that target β cell dysfunction in the era of personalized medicine. Protocols that allow derivation of β cells from pluripotent stem cells, represent a powerful research tool that allows modeling of human development and versatile experimental designs that can be used to shed some light on diabetes pathophysiology. This article reviews different models to study the genetic basis of β cell dysfunction, focusing on the recent advances made possible by stem cell applications in the field of diabetes research.

HNF1A Mutations and Beta Cell Dysfunction in Diabetes

“…Undoubtedly, genetically modified animals will continue to be a powerful tool for elucidating human pathology. Nevertheless, recent human stem cell-derived beta cell research has provided new insights into the pathogenesis of diabetes caused by genetic variants in humans [ 5 ]. Here, we review the current understanding of HNF1A in multiple organs, including the pancreas, and discuss how HNF1A mutations contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetes, primarily focusing on beta cell dysfunction.…”