title: Differentiation of human multipotent dermal fibroblasts into islet-like cell clusters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We have previously obtained a clonal population of cells from human foreskin that is able to differentiate into mesodermal, ectodermal and endodermal progenies. It is of great interest to know whether these cells could be further differentiated into functional insulin-producing cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-one single-cell-derived dermal fibroblast clones were established from human foreskin by limiting dilution culture. Of these, two clones could be differentiated into neuron-, adipocyte- or hepatocyte-like cells under certain culture conditions. In addition, those two clones were able to differentiate into islet-like clusters under pancreatic induction. Insulin, glucagon and somatostatin were detectable at the mRNA and protein levels after induction. Moreover, the islet-like clusters could release insulin in response to glucose in vitro.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to demonstrate that dermal fibroblasts can differentiate into insulin-producing cells without genetic manipulation. This may offer a safer cell source for future stem cell-based therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai 9th People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, National Tissue Engineering Center of China, Shanghai 200011, China. blue_150@163.com
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.forename: Fu Guo
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wen Jie
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Guang Dong
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yilin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002999:Clone Cells; D020405:Dermis / Q000473:pathology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D052816:Foreskin / Q000473:pathology; D005934:Glucagon / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D008297:Male; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D013004:Somatostatin; D005934:Glucagon