Type 1 diabetes results from the autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing pancreatic beta (?) cells. Patients with type 1\ndiabetes control their blood glucose levels using several daily injections of exogenous insulin; however, this does not eliminate the\nlong-term complications of hyperglycaemia. Currently, the only clinically viable treatments for type 1 diabetes are whole pancreas\nand islet transplantation. As a result, there is an urgent need to develop alternative therapies. Recently, cell and gene therapy have\nshown promise as a potential cure for type 1 diabetes through the genetic engineering of ââ?¬Ë?artificialââ?¬â?¢ ? cells to regulate blood\nglucose levels without adverse side effects and the need for immunosuppression. This review compares putative target cells and\nthe use of pancreatic transcription factors for gene modification, with the ultimate goal of engineering a glucose-responsive\nââ?¬Ë?artificialââ?¬â?¢ ? cell that mimics the function of pancreatic ? cells, while avoiding autoimmune destruction.
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