Differentiation of human multipotent dermal fibroblasts into islet-like cell clusters.
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.
Bi
Dan
D
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
Chen
Fu Guo
FG
Zhang
Wen Jie
WJ
Zhou
Guang Dong
GD
Cui
Lei
L
Liu
Wei
W
Cao
Yilin
Y
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
D007328:Insulin; D013004:Somatostatin; D005934:Glucagon