title: Combinations of growth factors enhance the potency of islets in vitro.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent studies have demonstrated the impressive expansion of beta cells in vitro. But unfortunately, expanded beta cells do not function in the same way as fully differentiated beta cells. Therefore, we developed a condition that would allow islet cells to proliferate while maintaining their endocrine function.
  
  
  METHODS
  We tested the different use of growth factors in a different culture period. And we tested the possibility of adult islets, which expanded during a short period, as a clinical source of islet cells by comparing the efficiency of transplantation of cultured islets with that of fresh islets.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The islets showed a time-dependent increase in proliferative activity, reaching 32.2% on day 5. After 5 days of culture, the efficiency of transplantation of cultured islets was increased (2-fold) in comparison to that of noncultured islets. Moreover, islet transplantation immediately induced normoglycemia at a level equal to native islets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that adult beta cells have the potential to proliferate while maintaining their endocrine function, which can be improved through careful regulation of proliferation and differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Korea Islet Transplantation Institution Inc, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Byoung Hoon
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Byoung Geun
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jun-Seop
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Chang Sook
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Tai Wook
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Sung Sik
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005934:Glucagon / Q000378:metabolism; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D013004:Somatostatin; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D005934:Glucagon