title: Adult pancreatic stem/progenitor cells spontaneously differentiate in vitro into multiple cell lineages and form teratoma-like structures.
abstract: Cells isolated from pancreas have a remarkable potential for self-renewal and multilineage differentiation. We here present a comprehensive characterisation of stem/progenitor cells derived from exocrine parts of the adult rat pancreas. Using purified cells from either single colonies or even single-cell clones, we specifically demonstrate: (i) the cells contain the typical stem/progenitor cell markers alkaline phophatase, SSEA-1, Oct-4, CD9, Nestin, Pax6, CD44, a-Fetoprotein and Brachyury, demonstrated by immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR; (ii) the cells have the potential to differentiate into lineages of all three germ layers in vitro; (iii) a clonal analysis revealed that even cell lines derived from a single cell have stem/progenitor cell properties such as self-renewal and spontaneous differentiation into various cell lineages; (iv) the cells have the propensity to form three-dimensional, teratoma-like structures in vitro, which contain cells of different lineages; and (v) external stimuli can activate the generation of certain cell types. For instance, cells treated with retinoic acid show an increased expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin. These results suggest that exocrine glands, such as pancreas may be a potential source of adult stem/progenitor cells, suitable for cell therapy of degenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Fraunhofer-lnstitute of Biomedical Engineering, Group of Cell Differentiation and Cell Technology at the University of Lübeck, MFC Innovationscampus 1, Maria-Goeppert-Strasse 1, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany. charli.kruse@ibmt.fhg.de
authors.forename: Charli
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kruse
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kajahn
authors.forename: Anna E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Petschnik
authors.forename: Antje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maass
authors.forename: Emel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Klink
authors.forename: Daniel H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Rapoport
authors.forename: Thilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wedel
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002999:Clone Cells; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D013724:Teratoma / Q000473:pathology*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D014212:Tretinoin