title: [Differentiating into islet-like cell clusters from human first trimester umbilical cord perivascular cells in vitro].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the characteristics of the human umbilical cord perivascular cells (HUCPVC) isolated from human first trimester umbilical cord perivascular layer tissues and the differentiation into islet-like cell clusters in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  The HUCPVC derived from human first trimester umbilical cord which was donated by the volunteers were isolated and subcultured. The surface markers such as stage-specific embryonic antigen 1 (SSEA-1), SSEA-3, SSEA-4, OCT-4, TRA-1-60, and TRA-1-81 were detected by immunohistochemical method. The first trimester HUCPVC were induced to embryoid bodies (EB)-like cell aggregations and islet-like cell clusters in vitro through a simple stepwise culture protocol (5 steps). The expressions of specific markers [α-fetoprotein (AFP), Nestin, and smooth muscle actin (SMA)] were measured by immunohistochemical method; and the ability of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The first trimester HUCPVC were successfully isolated and could be passaged steadily more than 10 generations, which expressed SSEA-3, SSEA-4, OCT-4, TRA-1-61, and TRA-1-81. The first trimester HUCPVC were successfully induced into EB-like cell aggregations and islet-like cell clusters. The EB-like cell aggregations could express markers of three germ lineages: AFP, Nestin, and SMA. The islet-like cell clusters could release insulin significantly in response to elevated concentrations of glucose in vitro (t = 7.444, P = 0.002). The insulin contents were (23.2 ± 5.3) mU/L and (7.0 ± 0.5) mU/L in high and low glucose media, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The first trimester HUCPVC has the ability to differentiate into islet-like cell clusters which can secret insulin in vitro.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Jianbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shangmian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D055746:Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigens; D014470:Umbilical Cord
chemical_list: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D007328:Insulin; D055746:Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigens; C052924:stage-specific embryonic antigen-3; C066584:stage-specific embryonic antigen-4