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Review
. 2015 Dec;29(6):821-31.
doi: 10.1016/j.beem.2015.09.006. Epub 2015 Oct 9.

Proper activation of MafA is required for optimal differentiation and maturation of pancreatic β-cells

Ilham El Khattabi  1 , Arun Sharma  2
Affiliations
Review

Proper activation of MafA is required for optimal differentiation and maturation of pancreatic β-cells

Ilham El Khattabi et al. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015 Dec.

Abstract

A key therapeutic approach for the treatment of Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is transplantation of functional islet β-cells. Despite recent advances in generating stem cell-derived glucose-responsive insulin(+) cells, their further maturation to fully functional adult β-cells still remains a daunting task. Conquering this hurdle will require a better understanding of the mechanisms driving maturation of embryonic insulin(+) cells into adult β-cells, and the implementation of that knowledge to improve current differentiation protocols. Here, we will review our current understanding of β-cell maturation, and discuss the contribution of key β-cell transcription factor MafA, to this process. The fundamental importance of MafA in regulating adult β-cell maturation and function indicates that enhancing MafA expression may improve the generation of definitive β-cells for transplantation. Additionally, we suggest that the temporal control of MafA induction at a specific stage of β-cell differentiation will be the next critical challenge for achieving optimum maturation of β-cells.

Keywords: MafA; insulin transcription factor; stem cell differentiation; β-cell differentiation; β-cell maturation; β-cells.

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