title: The combined effect of PDX1, epidermal growth factor and poly-L-ornithine on human amnion epithelial cells' differentiation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been suggested that the ectopic expression of PDX1, a dominant pancreatic transcription factor, plays a critical role in the developmental programming of the pancreas even from cells of unrelated tissues such as keratinocytes and amniotic fluid stem cells. In this study we have chosen to drive pancreatic development in human amnion epithelial cells by inducing endogenous PDX1 expression. Further, we have investigated the role of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) and Poly-L-Ornithine (PLO) on this differentiation process.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Human amnion epithelial cells expressed high levels of endogenous PDX1 upon transduction with an adenoviral vector expressing murine Pdx1. Other markers of various stages of pancreatic differentiation such as NKX6.1, SOX17, RFX6, FOXA2, CFTR, NEUROD1, PAX4 and PPY were also expressed upon Pdx1 transduction. Although initial expression of pancreatic progenitor markers was higher in culture conditions lacking EGF, for a sustained and increased expression EGF was required. Culture on PLO further increased the positive impact of EGF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pancreatic marker expression subsequent to mPdx1 transduction suggests that this approach may facilitate the in vitro differentiation of hAECs into cells of the endocrine pancreas. This result may have important implications in diabetes therapy.
authors.affiliation: Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA.|Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani K K Birla Goa campus, Zuari Nagar, 403726, Goa, India.
authors.forename: Shruti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balaji
authors.affiliation: Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani K K Birla Goa campus, Zuari Nagar, 403726, Goa, India. ganguly@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in.
authors.forename: Anasuya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ganguly
authors.affiliation: Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA.|Virginia Tech-Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering & Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
authors.forename: Emmanuel C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Opara
authors.affiliation: Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA.|Virginia Tech-Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering & Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
authors.forename: Shay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soker
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*; D014161:Transduction, Genetic
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D015534:Trans-Activators; C084010:pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 protein; C008973:polyornithine; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor
keywords: Amnion epithelial cells; Differentiation; Epidermal Growth Factor; PDX1; Pancreas; Poly-L-Ornithine