舒林酸调节IKK通路对3T3-L1细胞IRS-1酪氨酸磷酸化的影响

目的探讨舒林酸通过调节IKK通路对分化成熟3T3-L1细胞胰岛素受体后信号转导蛋白胰岛素受体底物1（IRS-1）蛋白酪氨酸/丝氨酸（Tyr/Ser）残基磷酸化表达的影响。 方法用地塞米松、IBMX和胰岛素三联培养诱导3T3-L1前脂肪细胞分化为成熟脂肪细胞,油红O染色观察脂肪细胞形态。诱导分化成熟的脂肪细胞如下分组干预,实时荧光定量PCR检测不同浓度炎症因子IL-1 β（0,1,10,100 ng/ml）和（或）不同浓度IKK特异阻断剂舒林酸（0,0.1,1,10 mmol/L）对诱导分化成熟的脂肪细胞IKK通路激活状态的影响。Western Blot检测IL-1β和（或）舒林酸对诱导分化成熟的脂肪细胞IRS-1酪氨酸/丝氨酸残基磷酸化状态的影响。采用单因素方差分析进行统计学分析。 结果实时荧光定量PCR和Western Blot结果显示,IL-1β 10 ng/ml组诱导成熟脂肪细胞IKKβ mRNA较对照组相对表达水平增加,分别为[（2.85±0.16）﹪,（1.00±0.12）﹪,P < 0.01];而IRS-1酪氨酸的磷酸化相对表达量较对照组下降,分别为[（0.72±0.26）﹪,（1.00±0.24）﹪,P < 0.01]。进一步予舒林酸（1?mmol/?L、10?mmol/L）干预后较对照组显著逆转IL-1β诱导脂肪细胞IRS-1酪氨酸磷酸化的表达水平,分别为[（1.72±0.16）﹪,（1.90±0.08）﹪,（1.00±0.13）﹪,P < 0.01],同时下调IRS-1丝氨酸磷酸化的表达水平[（0.79±0.16）﹪,（0.66±0.08）﹪,（1.00±0.10）﹪,P < 0.05]。 结?论IL-1β通过促进诱导分化成熟脂肪细胞IKKβ的表达,激活脂肪细胞IKK炎症通路,抑制脂肪细胞IRS-1酪氨酸残基磷酸化的表达,舒林酸通过调节脂肪细胞IRS-1酪氨酸/丝氨酸残基磷酸化的表达,改善脂肪细胞胰岛素受体后信号转导。     

共表达PDX1和BTC间充质干细胞对转分化胰岛素分泌细胞的影响

该文通过Tet调控下共表达PDX1与BTC的骨髓间充质干细胞系(PDX1~+BTC~+MSCs),探讨PDX1和BTC共表达对骨髓间充质干细胞分化为胰岛素分泌细胞(IPCs)的效率及成熟度的影响。采用两步法对PDX1~+BTC~+MSCs细胞系诱导分化成IPCs,第一步Dox诱导7天检测到Nestin、CK19表达;第二步再诱导7天后形成DTZ染色阳性的胰岛样结构,Ngn3、Nkx6.1 mRNA水平和PDX1、Insulin、Glucagon的蛋白表达阳性。分化后的IPCs在葡萄糖刺激下能产生胰岛素和C肽,但仍不能达到正常胰岛水平。提示利用Tet-On体系调控PDX1和BTC共表达对骨髓间充质干细胞进行修饰,能有效诱导骨髓间充质干细胞分化为胰岛素分泌细胞,但分化成熟度仍然与天然胰岛细胞功能存在差距。     

干细胞诱导分化为产胰岛素细胞的研究进展

I型糖尿病(胰岛素依赖型糖尿病)主要是由于自身免疫反应导致胰岛β细胞损伤所致。目前,临床上主要通过口服降糖药物和胰岛素替代疗法等内科措施治疗I型糖尿病,但只能延缓疾病的发展,并不能彻底治愈。迄今为止,已有研究报道利用胚胎干细胞和成体干细胞成功诱导分化为产胰岛素细胞(IPCs),这给I型糖尿病的治疗带来了新的希望。从干细胞诱导成IPCs的诱导方法都是多阶段的,因干细胞来源不同,诱导所需时间从几天到几个月差异很大,不同诱导方法中所用诱导因子也有所不同,主要包括表皮生长因子、碱性成纤维细胞生长因子、激活素A、β细胞素、尼克酰胺、Exendin-4、肝细胞生长因子、胃泌素、葡萄糖和胎牛血清等。目前,尚无统一标准诱导方法可大量并稳定的获得IPCs,并使之分泌的胰岛素量可满足临床治疗。因此,在IPCs临床应用前,关于来源干细胞的选择、诱导方法和诱导所需因子的选用仍需进一步深入探讨。本文主要就干细胞诱导分化为产胰岛素细胞的研究进展进行了综述。     

单克隆人胰腺干细胞分化特性的研究

研究1例来源于4月龄男性流产胎儿胰腺组织的单克隆人胰腺干细胞（monoclonal human pancreatic stem cell,mhPSC）系的体内外分化特性。将mhPSCs接种在铺有0．1％明胶的培养皿内,扩增培养3d后,加高糖DMEM诱导液诱导培养25d。相差显微镜下．观察细胞生长状况。采用双硫腙染色法、RT—PCR及葡萄糖刺激释放胰岛素和C肽实验．对体外定向诱导mhPSCs分化为功能性胰岛进行检测。将mhPSCs悬液注射在成年雄性裸鼠腹股沟皮下．注射30d时,取出移植物,采用SP法进行免疫组织化学反应,以检测mhPSCs的体内自然分化潜能。体外扩增培养,mhPSCs贴壁生长,呈多角形上皮样。生长至单层．呈“铺路石”状。体外定向诱导,细胞逐渐由多角形变成圆形,并聚集成类胰岛。诱导培养15d时．形成的类胰岛中少数细胞分化为B细胞,双硫腙染色阳性。诱导培养25d时,多数细胞分化为8细胞,双硫腙染色阳性,转录表达胰岛素的mRNA。用不同浓度葡萄糖刺激．诱导胰岛不仅释放胰岛素和C肽,而且其释放量随糖刺激浓度升高显著增加（0．01〈P〈0．05）。体内分化实验显示,mhPSCs在裸鼠背部形成类畸胎瘤。类畸胎瘤易与裸鼠分离,色白,血管丰富。显著表达pdx1、胰岛素、胰高血糖素、CK、MBP及NF蛋白。该研究结果证实单克隆人胰腺干细胞系体外定向诱导分化为包含大量β细胞的功能性类胰岛,在体内自然分化为胰岛、上皮及神经组织细胞。     

再生胰腺提取物诱导人羊膜间充质干细胞定向分化为胰岛素分泌细胞

利用天然生物诱导剂大鼠再生胰腺提取物(Rgenerating pancreatic extract,RPE)定向诱导人羊膜间充质干细胞(Human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells,hAMSCs)向胰岛素分泌细胞分化。切除大鼠60%胰腺刺激胰腺再生,而后制备RPE,以终浓度为20 mg/L的RPE诱导hAMSCs。实验通过形态学鉴定、双硫腙染色、免疫荧光分析、RT-PCR基因检测和高糖刺激胰岛素分泌等实验鉴定细胞诱导结果。实验结果显示P3代hAMSCs经RPE诱导后形态变化明显,诱导15 d后细胞呈簇状生长,经双硫腙染色可见棕红色细胞团;免疫荧光染色结果显示诱导细胞呈胰岛素阳性表达;RT-PCR实验证明诱导细胞阳性表达人胰岛相关基因Pdx1和insulin;高糖刺激实验证明培养液中有胰岛素成分产生,且分泌量随刺激时间的延长先增加而后趋于稳定。实验结果表明hAMSCs在体外经RPE诱导可以分化为胰岛素分泌细胞。     

紫草素促进caspase-9活化诱导大肠癌细胞凋亡的分子机制研究

目的探讨紫草素对大肠癌（CRC）细胞LoVo的抗肿瘤作用及其机制。 方法以不同紫草素浓度梯度（0、2、4、6 μmol/L）处理CRC细胞LoVo 24 h，以4 μmol/L紫草素处理不同时间梯度（0、12、24、48 h）的CRC细胞LoVo。流式细胞技术结合Annexin V-FITC/PI双染色测定细胞凋亡率，Western blot检测细胞中caspase-9蛋白的表达及切割情况。多组间比较采用单因素方差分析，组间两两比较采用LSD-t检验。 结果与0 μmol/L处理CRC细胞LoVo 24 h比较，2、4、6 μmol/L的细胞凋亡率[（6.94±1.02）﹪比（10.61±1.12）﹪、（15.55± 1.35）﹪、（36.51±1.46）﹪]均升高；与4 μmol/L紫草素处理0 h的CRC细胞LoVo比较，12、24、48 h的细胞凋亡率[（1.33±0.59）﹪比（19.23±1.24）﹪、（22.24±1.41）﹪、（28.41±1.52）﹪]均升高，差异具有统计学意义（P均< 0.001）。当紫草素剂量≥2 μmol/L，处理时间≥12 h时，caspase-9蛋白表达上调并被诱导活化，而caspase-9抑制剂（Z-LEHD-FMK）预处理后，LoVo细胞凋亡率下降38.7﹪，差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。 结论紫草素可以通过caspase-9蛋白的表达及其切割活性诱导CRC细胞凋亡。     

诱导脐带间充质干细胞分化为胰岛素分泌细胞的方法探讨

β细胞功能受损会引发1型糖尿病和部分2型糖尿病,因此,向患者体内移植正常的β细胞是一种理想的治疗方法,但供体的严重紧缺限制了它的应用,研究者们试图用胰岛素分泌细胞(insulin producing cells,IPCs)来替代β细胞用于细胞移植治疗。脐带间充质干细胞(umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells,UCMSCs)是一种多能干细胞,能够被诱导分化为IPCs,进而可以用于细胞移植治疗。该文综述了诱导UCMSCs分化为IPCs的主要方法(多步诱导法、基因工程法和共培养法),探讨了各方法存在的问题及改进方向,以期为这些方法的进一步完善提供有益信息。     

类叶升麻苷通过上调miR-204对缺氧/复氧诱导H9C2细胞凋亡的抑制作用

目的探讨类叶升麻苷对缺氧/复氧（H/R）处理大鼠心肌细胞（H9C2）损伤的影响及其分子机制。 方法体外培养H9C2细胞,H/R （4 h/20 h）建立心肌细胞损伤模型,并采用1、10、100 μmol/L类叶升麻苷,转染miR-204模拟物阴性对照（miR-NC）、转染miR-204模拟物（miR-24）,100 μmol/L类叶升麻苷干预+转染miR-204抑制剂阴性对照、100 μmol/L类叶升麻苷+转染miR-204抑制剂干预H/R细胞。分别进行RT-qPCR、MTT、流式细胞术、Western blot检测miR-204表达水平、细胞活力、细胞凋亡率和相关蛋白表达,利用相应试剂盒检测乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）、丙二醛（MDA）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）水平,酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）检测白细胞介素-6 （IL-6）、白细胞介素-β （IL-β）和肿瘤坏死因子-α （TNF-α）的含量。两组间比较采用独立样本t检验,多组间比较采用单因素方差分析,组间两两比较采用SNK-q检验。 结果与心肌损伤模型比较,10、100 μmol/L类叶升麻苷的细胞凋亡率[（25.62±1.96）%比（18.17±1.27）%,（11.24±0.57）%]、Bax（0.71±0.05比0.51±0.04、0.29±0.03）、LDH [（243.16±11.31）比（121.22±4.52）,（94.39±2.82）U/g]、MDA [（1.82±0.07）比（1.13±0.04）,（0.92±0.04）nmol/mg]、IL-6 [（121.45±6.18）比（87.16±4.53）,（47.11± 2.24）pg/mL]、IL-1β [（229.82±8.48）比（175.32±8.73）,（113.14±5.63）pg/mL]和TNF-α表达水平[（138.18±6.60）比（92.24±4.04）,（61.53±4.17）pg/mL]降低,Bcl-2 （0.18±0.01比0.35± 0.03、0.52±0.04）、SOD [（18.72±1.26）比（38.81±1.51）,（45.43±1.29）U/mg]和GSH-Px表达水平[（58.74±2.28）比（89.24±2.82）,（94.66±3.05）U/mg]升高（P均< 0.05）;与miR-NC比较,转染miR-204的细胞凋亡率[（24.12±1.12）%比（9.26±0.49）%]、Bax （0.62±0.04比0.25±0.02）、LDH [（229.11±8.47）比（86.32±5.92）U/g]、MDA [（1.75±0.08）比（0.85± 0.05）nmol/mg]、IL-6 [（134.47±7.31）比（55.26±2.13）pg/mL]、IL-1β [（211.14±9.70）比（98.11±3.18）pg/mL]和TNF-α表达水平[（152.92±3.49）比（51.34±2.66）pg/mL]降低,Bcl-2 （0.22±0.01比0.57±0.03）、SOD [（20.92±1.38）比（47.68±1.76）U/mg]和GSH-Px表达水平[（62.65±2.76）比（91.13±3.80）U/mg]升高（P < 0.05）;10、100 μmol/L类叶升麻苷可提高H/R诱导H9C2细胞中miR-204的表达水平（P < 0.05）;且下调miR-204逆转了类叶升麻苷对H/R处理H9C2细胞凋亡、氧化应激和炎症因子的影响。 结论类叶升麻苷可能通过上调miR-204表达缓解H/R诱导的H9C2细胞损伤。     

不同鼠龄大鼠骨骼肌卫星细胞生物学特性的探讨

该文探讨了5、10、15、21、42日龄大鼠骨骼肌卫星细胞(muscle-derived satellite cells,MDSCs)生物学特性。利用二次酶消化法提取MDSCs原代细胞。利用不同的诱导培养液使MDSCs定向分化为神经细胞、成骨细胞和肌细胞,并通过特异性染色和免疫组化法对其进行鉴定。结果显示,5、10、15、21日鼠龄大鼠骨骼肌中均可高效分离出原代MDSCs且细胞活力旺盛,42日大鼠MDSCs原代分离困难。以上结果一定程度上拓展了MDSCs的取材范围。第5、10、15、21日大鼠来源MDSCs经成神经细胞诱导后呈多角形、有明显的树突结构且表达神经特异性烯醇化酶(neuron-specific enolase,NSE),证明MDSCs可以分化为神经细胞;经成骨诱导后细胞形成明显的骨节结,茜素红及骨钙蛋白(osteocalcin)染色均呈阳性;经成肌诱导后细胞发生融合形成成熟肌管细胞且表达快肌肌球蛋白。出生后5、10、15、21日大鼠来源MDSCs取材范围广,易于体外分离培养,增殖能力强且具有一定的多能性,适合作为再生医学的种子细胞。     

生长因子诱导下人脐血单个核细胞向肝细胞的分化

目的：探讨在体外培养条件下人脐血单个核细胞向肝细胞的分化。方法：用FGF4、HGF诱导新鲜分离的脐血单个核细胞,并于培养16d通过RT—PCR、免疫细胞化学染色方法等方法检测肝细胞标志物的表达情况。结果：培养16d后。生长因子组贴壁的脐血MNCs中出现细胞体积增大、胞质丰富的双核细胞,RT—PCR和免疫细胞化学染色显示有肝细胞标志物的阳性表达（P〈0．05）。结论：在生长因子诱导下。脐血单个核细胞能够分化为类肝细胞。     

Isolation and passage of muscle-derived stem cells from the rat penile corpora cavernosa and induction of differentiation into smooth muscle cells

This study treated the isolation and passage of muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs) from rat penile corpora cavernosa, detection of stem cell marker expression, observation of their self-renewal and continuous proliferation, and demonstration of their potential to differentiate into smooth muscle cells in co-culture. Muscle-derived stem cells from the rat penile corpora cavernosa were isolated and purified. The expression of stem cell markers Sca-1 and desmin was detected in PP6 cells, thus confirming that the main components of PP6 cells are MDSCs. The expression of Sca-1 and desmin occurred both in PP6 cells and cells at passages 3, 6, and 8, and there was no significant decrease in the expression level with increasing passage number. The growth curves indicated that the cell doubling time was approximately 48 h. The cells entered the stationary phase after approximately 7 days of culture. The proliferative activity of the cells at passage 8 remained unchanged. After 2 days of co-culture with smooth muscle cells, the DAPI-labeled MDSCs tended to exhibit smooth muscle cell morphology and expression of α-SMA was detected. MDSCs exist in the rat penile corpora cavernosa and possess the potential to differentiate into smooth muscle cells. This discovery serves as the basis in view of the potential use of endogenous stem cells for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED).     

Comparison of human-induced pluripotent stem cells and mesenchymal stem cell differentiation potential to insulin producing cells in 2D and 3D culture systems in vitro

Diabetes is one of the most common diseases in the world that is chronic, progressive, and costly, and causes many complications. Common drug therapies are not able to cure it, and pancreas transplantation is not responsive to the high number of patients. The production of the insulin producing cells (IPCs) from the stem cells in the laboratory and their transplantation to the patient's body is one of the most promising new approaches. In this study, the differentiation potential of the induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into IPCs was compared to each other while cultured on poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) nanofibrous scaffold as a 3D substrate and tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) as a 2D substrate. Although the expression level of the insulin, Glut2 and pdx-1 genes in stem cells cultured on 3D substrate was significantly higher than the stem cells cultured on 2D substrate, the highest expression level of these genes was detected in the iPSCs cultured on PLGA-PEG. Insulin and C-peptide secretions from differentiated cells were also investigated and the results showed that secretions in cultured iPSCs on the PLGA-PEG were significantly higher than cultured iPSCs on the TCPS and cultured MSCs on both PLGA-PEG and TCPS. In addition, insulin protein was also expressed in the cultured iPSCs on the PLGA-PEG significantly higher than cultured MSCs on the PLGA-PEG. It can be concluded that differentiation potential of iPSCs into IPCs is significantly higher than human MSCs at both 2D and 3D culture systems.     

Three-dimensional differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells into insulin-producing cells

The aim of this study is to evaluate the collagen/hyaluronic acid (Col/HA) scaffold effect on the differentiation of insulin-producing cells (IPCs) from adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs). In this experimental study, ASCs were cultured and seeded in a Col/HA scaffold (3D culture) and then treated with induction media. After induction, the presence of IPCs was evaluated using gene expression (PDX-1, GLUT-2 and insulin) analysis and immunocytochemistry, while functional maturity was determined by measuring insulin release in response to low- and high-glucose media. The induced IPCs were morphologically similar to pancreatic islet-like cells. Expression of the islet-associated genes PDX-1, GLUT-2 and insulin genes in 3D-cultured cells was markedly higher than the 2D-cultured cells exposure differentiation media. Compared to the 2D culture of ASCs-derived IPCs, the insulin release from 3D ASCs-derived IPCs showed a nearly 4-fold (p?<?0.05) increase when exposed to a high glucose (25 mmol) medium. The percentage of insulin-positive cells in the 3D experimental group showed an approximately 4-fold increase compared to the 2D experimental culture cells. The results of this study demonstrated that the COL/HA scaffold can enhance the differentiation of IPCs from rat ASCs.     

Insulin-Producing Cells Differentiated from Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Vitro Ameliorate Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Hyperglycemia

Background

The two major obstacles in the successful transplantation of islets for diabetes treatment are inadequate supply of insulin-producing tissue and immune rejection. Induction of the differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) into insulin-producing cells (IPCs) for autologous transplantation may alleviate those limitations.

Methods

hMSCs were isolated and induced to differentiate into IPCs through a three-stage differentiation protocol in a defined media with high glucose, nicotinamide, and exendin-4. The physiological characteristics and functions of IPCs were then evaluated. Next, about 3 × 10⁶ differentiated cells were transplanted into the renal sub-capsular space of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic nude mice. Graft survival and function were assessed by immunohistochemistry, TUNEL staining and measurements of blood glucose levels in the mice.

Results

The differentiated IPCs were characterized by Dithizone (DTZ) positive staining, expression of pancreatic β-cell markers, and human insulin secretion in response to glucose stimulation. Moreover, 43% of the IPCs showed L-type Ca²⁺ channel activity and similar changes in intracellular Ca²⁺ in response to glucose stimulation as that seen in pancreatic β-cells in the process of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Transplantation of functional IPCs into the renal subcapsular space of STZ-induced diabetic nude mice ameliorated the hyperglycemia. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that transplanted IPCs sustainably expressed insulin, c-peptide, and PDX-1 without apparent apoptosis in vivo.

Conclusions

IPCs derived from hMSCs in vitro can ameliorate STZ-induced diabetic hyperglycemia, which indicates that these hMSCs may be a promising approach to overcome the limitations of islet transplantation.     

Differentiation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell into insulin-producing cells: an in vitro study

Stem cells with the ability to differentiate into insulin-producing cells (IPCs) are becoming the most promising therapy for diabetes mellitus and reduce the major limitations of availability and allogeneic rejection of beta cell transplantations. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are pluripotent stromal cells with the ability to proliferate and differentiate into a variety of cell types including endocrine cells of the pancreas. This study sought to inspect the in vitro differentiation of human adipose-derived tissue stem cells into IPCs which could provide an abundant source of cells for the purpose of diabetic cell therapy in addition to avoid immunological rejection. Adipose-derived MSCs were obtained from liposuction aspirates and induced to differentiate into insulin-secreting cells under a three-stage protocol based on a combination of low-glucose DMEM medium, β-mercaptoethanol, and nicotinamide for pre-induction and high-glucose DMEM, β-mercaptoethanol, nicotinamide, and exendin-4 for induction stages of differentiation. Differentiation was evaluated by the analysis of morphology, dithizone staining, RT-PCR, and immunocytochemistry. Morphological changes including typical islet-like cell clusters were observed by phase-contrast microscope at the end of differentiation protocol. Based on dithizone staining, differentiated cells were positive and undifferentiated cells were not stained. Furthermore, RT-PCR results confirmed the expression of insulin, PDX1, Ngn3, PAX4, and GLUT2 in differentiated cells. Moreover, insulin production by the IPCs was confirmed by immunocytochemistry analysis. It is concluded that adipose-derived MSCs could differentiate into insulin-producing cells in vitro.     

Astrocyte‐like cells differentiated from a novel population of CD45‐positive cells in adult human peripheral blood

We have previously reported a novel CD45‐positive cell population called peripheral blood insulin‐producing cells (PB‐IPCs) and its unique potential for releasing insulin in vitro. Despite the CD45‐positive phenotype and self‐renewal ability, PB‐IPCs are distinguished from hemopoietic and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) by some characteristics, such as a CD34‐negative phenotype and different culture conditions. We have further identified the gene profiles of the embryonic and neural stem cells, and these profiles include Sox2, Nanog, c‐Myc, Klf4, Notch1 and Mash1. After treatment with all‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in vitro, most PB‐IPCs exhibited morphological changes that included the development of elongated and branched cell processes. In the process of induction, the mRNA expression of Hes1 was robustly upregulated, and a majority of cells acquired some astrocyte‐associated specific phenotypes including anti‐glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), CD44, Glutamate‐aspartate transporter (GLAST) and S100β. In spite of the deficiency of glutamate uptaking, the differentiated cells significantly relaxed the regulation of the expression of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA. This finding demonstrates that PB‐IPCs could be induced into a population of astrocyte‐like cells and enhanced the neurotrophic potential when the state of proliferation was limited by ATRA, which implies that this unique CD45+ cell pool may have a protective role in some degenerative diseases of the central nervous system (CNS).     

Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into insulin-producing cells upon microenvironmental manipulation in vitro

It was recently reported that pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in rodent bone marrow (BM) have the capacity to generate insulin-producing cells (IPCs) in vitro. However, little is known about this capacity in human BM-MSCs. We developed a nongenetic method to induce human BM-MSCs to transdifferentiate into IPCs both phenotypically and functionally. BM-MSCs from 12 human donors were sequentially cultured in specially defined conditions. Their differentiation extent toward β-cell phenotype was evaluated systemically. Specifically, after induction human BM-MSCs formed spheroid islet-like clusters containing IPCs, which was further confirmed by dithizone (DTZ) staining and electron microscopy. These IPCs expressed multiple genes related to the development or function of pancreatic β cells (including NKX6.1, ISL-1, Beta2/Neurod, Glut2, Pax6, nestin, PDX-1, ngn3, insulin and glucagon). The coexpression of insulin and c-peptide was observed in IPCs by immunofluorescence. Moreover, they were able to release insulin in a glucose-dependent manner and ameliorate the diabetic conditions of streptozotocin (STZ)-treated nude mice. These results indicate that human BM-MSCs might be an available candidate to overcome limitations of islet transplantation.     

Insulin-producing cells from human pancreatic islet-derived progenitor cells following transplantation in mice

Stem/progenitor cells hold promise for alleviating/curing type 1 diabetes due to the capacity to differentiate into functional insulin-producing cells. The current study aims to assess the differentiation potential of human pancreatic IPCs (islet-derived progenitor cells). IPCs were derived from four human donors and subjected to more than 2000-fold expansion before turning into ICCs (islet-like cell clusters). The ICCs expressed ISL-1 Glut2, PDX-1, ngn3, insulin, glucagon and somatostatin at the mRNA level and stained positive for insulin and glucagon by immunofluorescence. Following glucose challenge in vitro, C-peptide was detected in the sonicated ICCs, instead of in the conditioned medium. To examine the function of the cells in vivo, IPCs or ICCs were transplanted under the renal capsule of immunodeficient mice. One month later, 19 of 28 mice transplanted with ICCs and 4 of 14 mice with IPCs produced human C-peptide detectable in blood, indicating that the in vivo environment further facilitated the maturation of ICCs. However, among the hormone-positive mice, only 9 of 19 mice with ICCs and two of four mice with IPCs were able to secrete C-peptide in response to glucose.