Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) for Disease Modeling and Insulin Target Cell Regeneration in the Treatment of Insulin Resistance: A Review

Diabetes mellitus, both type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D), has become the epidemic of the century and a major public health concern given its rising prevalence and the increasing adoption of a sedentary lifestyle globally. This multifaceted disease is characterized by impaired pancreatic beta cell funct...

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Main Authors: Sama Thiab, Juberiya M. Azeez, Alekya Anala, Moksha Nanda, Somieya Khan, Alexandra E. Butler, Manjula Nandakumar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-08-01
Series:Cells
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/15/1188
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author Sama Thiab
Juberiya M. Azeez
Alekya Anala
Moksha Nanda
Somieya Khan
Alexandra E. Butler
Manjula Nandakumar
author_facet Sama Thiab
Juberiya M. Azeez
Alekya Anala
Moksha Nanda
Somieya Khan
Alexandra E. Butler
Manjula Nandakumar
author_sort Sama Thiab
collection DOAJ
description Diabetes mellitus, both type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D), has become the epidemic of the century and a major public health concern given its rising prevalence and the increasing adoption of a sedentary lifestyle globally. This multifaceted disease is characterized by impaired pancreatic beta cell function and insulin resistance (IR) in peripheral organs, namely the liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue. Additional insulin target tissues, including cardiomyocytes and neuronal cells, are also affected. The advent of stem cell research has opened new avenues for tackling this disease, particularly through the regeneration of insulin target cells and the establishment of disease models for further investigation. Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have emerged as a valuable resource for generating specialized cell types, such as hepatocytes, myocytes, adipocytes, cardiomyocytes, and neuronal cells, with diverse applications ranging from drug screening to disease modeling and, importantly, treating IR in T2D. This review aims to elucidate the significant applications of iPSC-derived insulin target cells in studying the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and T2D. Furthermore, recent differentiation strategies, protocols, signaling pathways, growth factors, and advancements in this field of therapeutic research for each specific iPSC-derived cell type are discussed.
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issn 2073-4409
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series Cells
spelling doaj-art-b9d6dc724fc547a2b791ecb7a614f2da2025-08-20T04:00:55ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-08-011415118810.3390/cells14151188Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) for Disease Modeling and Insulin Target Cell Regeneration in the Treatment of Insulin Resistance: A ReviewSama Thiab0Juberiya M. Azeez1Alekya Anala2Moksha Nanda3Somieya Khan4Alexandra E. Butler5Manjula Nandakumar6Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Bahrain, Busaiteen 15503, BahrainRoyal College of Surgeons in Ireland Bahrain, Busaiteen 15503, BahrainRoyal College of Surgeons in Ireland Bahrain, Busaiteen 15503, BahrainRoyal College of Surgeons in Ireland Bahrain, Busaiteen 15503, BahrainRoyal College of Surgeons in Ireland Bahrain, Busaiteen 15503, BahrainRoyal College of Surgeons in Ireland Bahrain, Busaiteen 15503, BahrainRoyal College of Surgeons in Ireland Bahrain, Busaiteen 15503, BahrainDiabetes mellitus, both type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D), has become the epidemic of the century and a major public health concern given its rising prevalence and the increasing adoption of a sedentary lifestyle globally. This multifaceted disease is characterized by impaired pancreatic beta cell function and insulin resistance (IR) in peripheral organs, namely the liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue. Additional insulin target tissues, including cardiomyocytes and neuronal cells, are also affected. The advent of stem cell research has opened new avenues for tackling this disease, particularly through the regeneration of insulin target cells and the establishment of disease models for further investigation. Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have emerged as a valuable resource for generating specialized cell types, such as hepatocytes, myocytes, adipocytes, cardiomyocytes, and neuronal cells, with diverse applications ranging from drug screening to disease modeling and, importantly, treating IR in T2D. This review aims to elucidate the significant applications of iPSC-derived insulin target cells in studying the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and T2D. Furthermore, recent differentiation strategies, protocols, signaling pathways, growth factors, and advancements in this field of therapeutic research for each specific iPSC-derived cell type are discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/15/1188human-induced pluripotent stem cellsinsulin resistancediabetes mellitusiPSC-derived insulin target cellsiPSC differentiation
spellingShingle Sama Thiab
Juberiya M. Azeez
Alekya Anala
Moksha Nanda
Somieya Khan
Alexandra E. Butler
Manjula Nandakumar
Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) for Disease Modeling and Insulin Target Cell Regeneration in the Treatment of Insulin Resistance: A Review
Cells
human-induced pluripotent stem cells
insulin resistance
diabetes mellitus
iPSC-derived insulin target cells
iPSC differentiation
title Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) for Disease Modeling and Insulin Target Cell Regeneration in the Treatment of Insulin Resistance: A Review
title_full Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) for Disease Modeling and Insulin Target Cell Regeneration in the Treatment of Insulin Resistance: A Review
title_fullStr Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) for Disease Modeling and Insulin Target Cell Regeneration in the Treatment of Insulin Resistance: A Review
title_full_unstemmed Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) for Disease Modeling and Insulin Target Cell Regeneration in the Treatment of Insulin Resistance: A Review
title_short Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) for Disease Modeling and Insulin Target Cell Regeneration in the Treatment of Insulin Resistance: A Review
title_sort human induced pluripotent stem cells ipscs for disease modeling and insulin target cell regeneration in the treatment of insulin resistance a review
topic human-induced pluripotent stem cells
insulin resistance
diabetes mellitus
iPSC-derived insulin target cells
iPSC differentiation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/15/1188
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