Dynamic analysis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells migrating to pancreatic islets using coculture microfluidic chips: An accelerated migrating rate and better survival of pancreatic islets were revealed.
OBJECTIVE
A coculture microfluidic chip had been fabricated to investigate the dynamic process of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells migrating to the pancreatic islets in vitro.


METHODS
We fabricated a coculture microfluidic chip using standard procedures. On the chip, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and pancreatic islets were introduced respectively into two microchambers which could be connected by a traffic tunnel. Migration assay was performed along the tunnel, and the function of pancreatic islets was timely evaluated by analysis of insulin secretion in response to high-glucose-challenge.


RESULTS
The results showed that some bioactive factors excreted by freshly isolated pancreatic islets could enhance the migrating rate of BM-MSCs. Besides, pancreatic islets also showed a better survival and function by coculturing with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.


CONCLUSIONS
The results demonstrated that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells had the ability to migrate to pancreatic islets and provide an apparent overall preservation for islet function. This microfluidic device was a potentially useful tool to mimic actual biological processes of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells migrating to the pancreatic islets in vitro.
Lin
Peng
P
Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, China.
Chen
Li
L
Li
Dong
D
Yang
Nailong
N
Sun
Yu
Y
Xu
Yuxin
Y
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D018920:Coculture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000502:physiology*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
D007328:Insulin