Fibronectin and pellet suspension culture promote differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells into insulin producing cells

Ching Fang Chang, Ke Hsun Hsu, Shih Hwa Chiou, Larry Low Tone Ho, Yu Show Fu*, Shih Chieh Hung

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

Multipotential mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from bone marrow can differentiate into multiple mesenchymal tissues and exhibit a neuronal phenotype under appropriate induction conditions. Methods promoting neural differentiation have been adapted to derive insulin producing cells (IPCs) from embryonic stem cells, but it remains unclear whether neuronal cell-based differentiation method will be able to derive IPCs from MSCs. Using a four-stage differentiation protocol which contains neuronal differentiation factor and IPC-conversion reagent-nicotinamide, the potential of human MSCs to differentiate into IPCs was evaluated by means of reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction, immunostaining, and functional analysis. MSCs in monolayer spontaneously expressed genes for islet transcription factors, Nkx6.1 and Ngn3, but did not express insulin after treatment in this protocol. Pellet suspension culture and the addition of fibronectin enhanced pancreatic differentiation with increase in insulin and Glut2 gene expression. Switching of cells to high-glucose culture further increased immunostaining for proinsulin and insulin. IPCs secreted insulin in response to elevated glucose concentration, which was regulated by reagents that increase cyclic AMP production or modify calcium influx. Our data suggest that MSCs in the monolayer do not undergo IPC differentiation and pellet suspension culture with fibronectin promotes IPCs derived from MSCs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1097-1105
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Biomedical Materials Research - Part A
Volume86
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Sep 2008

Keywords

  • Fibronectin
  • Human
  • Insulin producing cells
  • Mesenchymal stem cells
  • Pellet
  • Suspension
  • β-cells

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Fibronectin and pellet suspension culture promote differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells into insulin producing cells'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this