Potential of embryonic stem cells for differentiation into neurons and insulin-secreting cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cell lines derived from the inner cell mass of blastocysts and represent a population of undifferentiated pluripotent cells capable of multilineage differentiation in vitro. Although very useful for studying developmental processes, human ES cell lines have also been suggested as a potential and unlimited source for cellular transplantation and the treatment of human disease. By using in vitro differentiation and selection protocols, embryonic stem cells can be also guided into specific cell lineages and selected by applying genetic selection when a marker gene is expressed. Differentiation and cell selection protocols have been used to generate embryonic stem cell-derived insulin-secreting cells and neurons that normalize blood glucose and behavioral movements when transplanted into animal models. These investigations have increased the expectations that cell therapy could be one of the solutions to diabetes and neurological disorders.