title: Immunomodulatory properties of pancreatic islet-derived stem cells co-cultured with T cells: Does it contribute to the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previously, we isolated stem cells from rat pancreatic islets (rPI-SCs) with similar characteristics of bone-marrow derived-mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). We aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of them on stimulated T-cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following in vitro co-culturing directly and indirectly, the response of T-cells stimulated by concanavalin-A and immunosuppressive activity of rPI-SCs were evaluated by analysing in terms of cell viability, proliferation and apoptosis, cell cycle, differentiation of Treg, cytokines and some regulatory factors produced from T and SCs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results have firstly demonstrated that rPI-SCs like MSCs could regulate stimulated T-cell responses by altering their cell-cycle and cytokine profile, inhibiting the cell proliferation, and inducing the apoptosis and differentiation of Treg. Direct and indirect in vitro co-cultures of rPI-SCs with stimulated T-cells showed immunosuppressive effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therefore, we are introducing a novel type of stem cell with immunomodulatory properties. On the other hand, it is questionable why PI-SCs cannot protect the insulin producing cells from attacks of autoreactive T-cells in the developing of type1 diabetes. For this purpose, further molecular researches in vitro and in vivo are needed to clarify why PI-SCs may not suppress attacks of autoreactive-immune-cells towards PIs. PI-SCs from diseased people should be compared with pancreas of healthy ones at both genomic and proteomic levels.
authors.affiliation: Center for Stem Cell and Gene Therapies Research and Practice, Institute of Health Sciences, Stem Cell Department, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Sariboyaci
authors.affiliation: Center for Stem Cell and Gene Therapies Research and Practice, Institute of Health Sciences, Stem Cell Department, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Demircan
authors.affiliation: Center for Stem Cell and Gene Therapies Research and Practice, Institute of Health Sciences, Stem Cell Department, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gacar
authors.affiliation: Center for Stem Cell and Gene Therapies Research and Practice, Institute of Health Sciences, Stem Cell Department, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Z S
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Unal
authors.affiliation: Center for Stem Cell and Gene Therapies Research and Practice, Institute of Health Sciences, Stem Cell Department, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Erman
authors.affiliation: Center for Stem Cell and Gene Therapies Research and Practice, Institute of Health Sciences, Stem Cell Department, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karaoz
mesh_terms: D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D015551:Autoimmunity; D002450:Cell Communication; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008954:Models, Biological; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines