The aim of Pancreatic Stem Cells is to provide a broad overview of an intriguing model of organogenesis (the development of the pancreas) from the perspective of stem cell research. The tangible prospect of devising effective cell therapies for type I diabetes -a disease thus far considered incurable- has stoked a widespread interest in harnessing our knowledge on the basic biology behind the development of this organ. This text is conceived as an all-encompassing guide to explore the many aspects of "regenerative therapies" for the endocrine pancreas, from adult and embryonic stem cells to endogenous regeneration and transdifferentiation. All these themes are built upon an up-to-date discussion on pancreatic ontogeny, which provides a solid background for both basic scientists and health professionals.

"From the discovery of Pdx1, the first "master gene" of pancreatic development, to the most recent findings on the role of microRNAs in beta cell homeostasis, the last fifteen years have seen an unprecedented advance in our understanding of the precise development and organization of the many different cell types that make up the pancreas. It is now widely acknowledged that the therapeutic differentiation of stem cells into pancreatic cells is an ambitious endeavor that will not succeed without a thorough understanding of the molecular processes underlying the native development of the organ. This book, aimed at experts and students alike, offers a comprehensive review of the state of the art in both pancreatic development and regeneration. The many strategies to differentiate adult and embryonic stem cells into pancreatic beta cells are also discussed in the context of potential therapeutic interventions for type I diabetes."

1: Preface. Importance of the subject in the context of type I diabetes. 2: The pancreas. 3: Pancreatic development. 4: Pancreatic regeneration. 1. Models of regeneration. 2. Stem cells vs. beta cell replication. 5: Stem cell differentiation: general approaches. 1. Recapitulation of pancreatic development. 2. Signal-driven strategies. 3. Gene transfer and protein transduction. 4. Physiological variables. 6: Embryonic stem cells and pancreatic differentiation. 7: Adult stem cells and pancreatic differentiation. 1. Bone marrow. 2. Umbilical cord. 3. Ductal and acinar cells. 4. Mesenchymal stem cells and de-differentiation. 8: Transdifferentiation. 9: Remaining challenges and clinical perspectives.