Effect of pancreatic extract on insulin secreting cell differentiation from mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

Diabetes type 1 is developed as a result of autoimmune destruction of pancreatic islet beta cells. Recent studies indicated that many types of stem cells could be considered ad potential sources of obtaining Insulin like producing cells (IPCS). In this study, the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into insulin-producing cells was investigated using mouse pancreatic extract.

In this laboratory experimental study, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were used to differentiate into insulin-producing cells. The differentiated cells were assessed using dithizone-specific staining and anti-insulin-proinsulin and anti-insulin receptor beta antibodies. In addition, specific gene expression of pancreatic cells was assessed by RT-PCR method. Resaults: The differentiated cells derived from direct method of morphology were represented as pancreatic beta cells. Positive dithizone cells were observed as red-purple bundles. The results of RT-PCR represented specific gene expression of beta cells in the differentiated cells as direct. Immunofluorescence confirmed the presence of beta cells specific markers in these cells.

The results of this study indicated that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells could differentiate into insulin-producing cells in presence of pancreatic extract. Therefore, application of these results facilitates in vitro production of beta cells from stem cells.