NestinnegCD24low/- population from fetal Nestin-EGFP transgenic mice enriches the pancreatic endocrine progenitor cells.
OBJECTIVE
To identify whether Nestin-positve cells or Nestin-negative cells in pancreas enrich potential pancreatic stem/progenitor cells.


METHODS
We generated transgenic mice carrying enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the control of the nestin second-intronic enhancer and subsequently divided their embryonic pancreatic cells into different subpopulations according to the expression of EGFP and CD24 and characterized these subpopulations by in vitro culture.


RESULTS
The EGFP expression correlated well with that of endogenous Nestin. Only the NestinCD24 subpopulation was able to proliferate and generate immature islet-like cell clusters in long-term culture. Immature islet-like cell clusters could be induced to differentiate into insulin-, glucagon-, and somatostatin-positive cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Pancreatic endocrine stem/progenitor cells are enriched in the NestinCD24 population of embryonic pancreas.
Wang
Xiaojing
X
PKU-BLARC Mouse Genomics Center, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Hu
Jianjun
J
Zhao
Dongxin
D
Wang
Guangwen
G
Tan
Lei
L
Du
Liying
L
Yang
Jie
J
Hou
Lingling
L
Zhang
Hong
H
Yu
Yuansong
Y
Zhang
Heng
H
Deng
Hongkui
H
Ding
Mingxiao
M
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D051927:CD24 Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D064231:Nestin; D010179:Pancreas / Q000196:embryology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D051927:CD24 Antigen; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C577485:Nes protein, mouse; D064231:Nestin; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins