Human β-cell Proliferation and Intracellular Signaling: Driving in the Dark Without a Road Map

A major goal in diabetes research is to find ways to enhance the mass and function of insulin secreting beta-cells in the endocrine pancreas to prevent and/or delay the onset or even reverse overt diabetes. In this Perspectives in Diabetes article, we highlight the contrast between the relatively large body of information that is available in regard to signaling pathways, proteins, and mechanisms that together provide a road map for efforts to regenerate beta-cells in rodents versus the scant information in human beta-cells. To reverse the state of ignorance regarding human beta-cell signaling, we suggest a series of questions for consideration by the scientific community to construct a human beta-cell proliferation road map. The hope is that the knowledge from the new studies will allow the community to move faster towards developing therapeutic approaches to enhance human beta-cell mass in the long-term goal of preventing and/or curing type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes 61:2205-2213, 2012