Nature Communications (Jul 2022)

ZnT8 loss-of-function accelerates functional maturation of hESC-derived β cells and resists metabolic stress in diabetes

  • Qing Ma,
  • Yini Xiao,
  • Wenjun Xu,
  • Menghan Wang,
  • Sheng Li,
  • Zhihao Yang,
  • Minglu Xu,
  • Tengjiao Zhang,
  • Zhen-Ning Zhang,
  • Rui Hu,
  • Qiang Su,
  • Fei Yuan,
  • Tinghui Xiao,
  • Xuan Wang,
  • Qing He,
  • Jiaxu Zhao,
  • Zheng-jun Chen,
  • Zhejin Sheng,
  • Mengyao Chai,
  • Hong Wang,
  • Weiyang Shi,
  • Qiaolin Deng,
  • Xin Cheng,
  • Weida Li

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-31829-9
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 1 – 16

Abstract

Read online

Immature function and fragility hinder application of hESC-derived β cells (SC-β cell) for diabetes cell therapy. Here, the authors identify ZnT8 as a gene editing target to enhance the insulin secretion and cell survival under metabolic stress by abolishing zinc transport in SC-β cells.