Abstract
Vital organs such as the pancreas and the brain lack the capacity for effective regeneration. To overcome this limitation, an emerging strategy consists of converting resident tissue-specific cells into the cell types that are lost due to disease by a process called in vivo lineage reprogramming. Here we discuss recent breakthroughs in regenerating pancreatic β-cells and neurons from various cell types, and highlight fundamental challenges that need to be overcome for the translation of in vivo lineage reprogramming into therapy.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Acinar Cells / cytology*
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Acinar Cells / physiology
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Brain / cytology*
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Brain / physiology
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Brain Diseases / pathology
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Brain Diseases / physiopathology
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Brain Diseases / therapy
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Cell Differentiation
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Cell Lineage
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Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy
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Cellular Reprogramming*
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Humans
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Insulin-Secreting Cells / cytology*
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Insulin-Secreting Cells / physiology
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Neuroglia / cytology*
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Neuroglia / physiology
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Neurons / cytology*
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Neurons / physiology
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Pancreas / cytology*
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Pancreas / physiology
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Pancreatic Diseases / pathology
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Pancreatic Diseases / physiopathology
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Pancreatic Diseases / therapy
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Regeneration