title: Transcriptional profiling and functional network analyses of islet-like clusters (ILCs) generated from pancreatic stem cells in vitro.
abstract: We have earlier reported the generation of islet-like clusters (ILCs) from mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-like cells present in murine pancreas. Here we compare these ILCs to native primary islets by transcriptome screening. Genes were categorized into functional clusters and network analysis was done by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). The fold changes for a selected panel of molecules were validated with quantitative real time PCR. A differential expression of 6516 genes (p-value ≤ 0.05, 1.5 fold change) with upregulated expression of numerous inflammatory and 'Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition' molecules (EMT) was seen. A significant increase in the early β-cell marker expression in the ILCs indicated their progenitor status. Although not fully mature, ILCs offer certain advantages including the large number of easily inducible initiator MSCs. These 'naïve' cells may aid to devise protocols for generating functional islet equivalents. Moreover their maturation upon transplantation under local microenvironmental niche is highly possible.
authors.affiliation: School of Regenerative Medicine (SORM), Manipal University, Bangalore 560065, India.
authors.forename: Renjitha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gopurappilly
authors.affiliation: School of Regenerative Medicine (SORM), Manipal University, Bangalore 560065, India. Electronic address: rr.bhonde@manipal.edu.
authors.forename: Ramesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhonde
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics
keywords: Gene expression; Mesenchymal stromal cells; Microarray; Pancreas; β-cells