title: In vitro transdifferentiation of hepatoma cells into functional pancreatic cells.
abstract: We have characterised the transdifferentiation of human HepG2 (hepatoma) cells to pancreatic cells following introduction of an activated version of the pancreatic transcription factor Pdx1 (XlHbox8-VP16). The following questions are addressed: (1) are all types of pancreatic cells produced? (2) is the requirement for expression of the transgene temporary or permanent? (3) are the transdifferentiated beta-cells responsive to physiological stimuli? The results showed that both pancreatic exocrine cells (by detection of amylase protein), and endocrine cells (by detecting insulin, glucagon and somatostatin proteins) are induced after XlHbox8VP16 transfection. Moreover, the hepatic phenotype becomes suppressed during transdifferentiation of hepatocytes to pancreatic cells. Requirement for the transgene is only temporary and it is no longer required once the pancreatic differentiation program is activated. Finally, we provided results to suggest that the transdifferentiated cells are functional by detecting: (1) functional markers for pancreatic beta-cells including prohormone convertase 1/3 (PC1/3), insulin C-peptide and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R), (2) increased insulin mRNA expression after treatment of cells with GLP-1 and betacellulin, physiological stimuli that regulate pancreatic function and (3) elevated insulin secretion after glucose challenge. The transdifferentiation of hepatic to pancreatic cells represents one possible source of beta-cells for human islet transplantation and this study shows that such a transdifferentiation can be achieved in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK.
authors.forename: Wan-Chun
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Marko E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Horb
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tosh
authors.forename: Jonathan M W
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Slack
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D000818:Animals; D066259:Betacellulin; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D005047:Etoposide / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005934:Glucagon / Q000378:metabolism; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: C587851:BTC protein, human; D066259:Betacellulin; C587852:Btc protein, mouse; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D007328:Insulin; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015534:Trans-Activators; C084010:pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 protein; D013004:Somatostatin; D005047:Etoposide; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D005934:Glucagon