Gastrointestinal Tract and Endocrine System

The absorption of nutrients in the small intestine and the control of blood glucose levels are crucial to ensure energy homeostasis of the organism. These functions can be severely impaired by diseases like type I diabetes, short bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease, for which the standard treatment involves either life-long replacement, immunosuppression, or transplantation, and is often not satisfactory. After outlining the diseases and established as well as experimental approaches, this chapter summarizes recent preclinical and clinical studies on novel therapeutic options relating to regenerative medicine, including growth factors and stem cells.