New insights into human beta cell biology using human pluripotent stem cells

Pancreatic beta-cells are responsible for maintaining glucose homeostasis. Therefore, their dysregulation leads to diabetes. Pancreas or islet transplants can be used to treat diabetes but these human tissues remain in short supply. Significant progress has now been made in differentiating human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) such as human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) or human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into pancreatic beta-like cells for potential cell replacement therapy. Additionally, these hPSC-derived beta-like cells represent a new invaluable model for studying diabetes disease mechanisms. Here, we review the use of hPSC-derived beta-like cells as a platform to model various types of defects in human beta-cells in diabetes, comparing them against existing animal models, ex vivo human islets and human beta-cell line. We also discuss how hPSC-derived beta-like cells are being used as a platform for screening novel therapeutic compounds. Last but not least, we evaluate the strengths and limitations of this human cell-based platform as an avenue to study and reveal new insights into human beta-cell biology.