Analysis of insulin-producing cells during in vitro differentiation from feeder-free embryonic stem cells.
Embryonic stem (ES) cells can differentiate into many cell types and are expected to be useful for tissue engineering. Recent reports have shown that ES cells can differentiate into insulin-producing cells in response to the transient expression of the pdx-1 gene, after the removal of feeder cells. To investigate the lineage of insulin-producing cells and their in vitro differentiation, we introduced the betageo gene, encoding a beta-galactosidase-neomycin phosphotransferase fusion protein under the control of the mouse insulin 2 promoter, into ES cells that had been adapted to feeder-free culture, and analyzed insulin gene expression during their in vitro differentiation. We also examined the expression of transcription factors that are related to the differentiation of the pancreas. X-gal staining analysis revealed beta-galactosidase-positive cells on the surface and in the center of the embryoid body that proliferated during differentiation. Glucose-responsive insulin-producing cells, derived from our feeder-free ES cells, expressed insulin 2, pdx-1, Pax4, and Isl1 and also the glucagon, somatostatin, and PP genes. Moreover, the genes encoding p48, amylase, and carboxypeptidase A were also expressed. These results suggest that ES cells can differentiate not only into endocrine cells but also into exocrine cells of the pancreas, without the initiation of pdx-1 expression.
Moritoh
Yusuke
Y
Division of Stem Cell Regulation Research, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Yamato
Eiji
E
Yasui
Yumiko
Y
Miyazaki
Satsuki
S
Miyazaki
Jun-ichi
J
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D017931:DNA Primers; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D007328:Insulin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D019868:Kanamycin Kinase / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001617:beta-Glucosidase / Q000235:genetics
D017931:DNA Primers; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D007328:Insulin; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; C084010:pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 protein; D019868:Kanamycin Kinase; D001617:beta-Glucosidase; D005947:Glucose