title: Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells derived from Wharton's jelly differentiate into insulin-producing cells in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Islet transplantation is an effective way of reversing type I diabetes. However, islet transplantation is hampered by issues such as immune rejection and shortage of donor islets. Mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into insulin-producing cells. However, the potential of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (huMSCs) to become insulin-producing cells remains undetermined.
  
  
  METHODS
  We isolated and induced cultured huMSCs under islet cell culture conditions. The response of huMSCs were monitored under an inverted phase contrast microscope. Immunocytochemical and immunofluorescence staining methods were used to measure insulin and glucagon protein levels. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to detect gene expression of human insulin and PDX-1. Dithizone-staining was employed to determine the zinc contents in huMSCs. Insulin secretion was also evaluated through radioimmunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HuMSCs induced by nicotinamide and β-mercaptoethanol or by neurogenic differentiation 1 gene (NeuroD1) transfection gradually changed morphology from typically elongated fibroblast-shaped cells to round cells. They had a tendency to form clusters. Immunocytochemical studies showed positive expression of human insulin and glucagon in these cells in response to induction. RT-PCR experiments found that huMSCs expressed insulin and PDX-1 genes following induction and dithizone stained the cytoplasm of huMSCs a brownish red color after induction. Insulin secretion in induced huMSCs was significantly elevated compared with the control group (t = 6.183, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HuMSCs are able to differentiate into insulin-producing cells in vitro. The potential use of huMSCs in β cell replacement therapy of diabetes needs to be studied further.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, China.
authors: Hong-Wu
authors: HW
authors: Wang
authors: Li-Min
authors: LM
authors: Lin
authors: Hong-Yan
authors: HY
authors: He
authors: Fang
authors: F
authors: You
authors: Wei-Zhong
authors: WZ
authors: Li
authors: Tian-Hua
authors: TH
authors: Huang
authors: Gui-Xia
authors: GX
authors: Ma
authors: Lian
authors: L
authors: Ma
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000166:cytology*; D059631:Wharton Jelly / Q000166:cytology*