Adult human pancreatic stem cells' isolation and transdifferentiation to islet cells

Objective To study the transdifferentiation of pancreatic stem cells to islet cells through isolation,cultivation and transdifferentiation of adult human pancreatic duct cells.Methods Adult human pancreas was digested with collagenase followed by density gradient to purify islets from acinar and ductal tissue.Duct epithelial cells were cultivated for up to 27 days.Samples were taken to observe the morphological changes and the expressions of transdifferentiation gene PDX-1 and protein CK-19 by immunocytochemistry.Results A large number of duct epithelial cells were harvested after the isolation of islets.Some duct epithelial cells were positive for PDX-1 and CK-19 at first day and the duct epithelial cells proliferated and expanded rapidly and then transdifferentiated to stem cells and finally 3D islets.760 islets/g pancreatic tissue were harvested on day 27.Conclusion A large number of adult pancreatic duct cells could be isolated and transdifferentiated to islet cells in vitro under the improved conditions,which might provide a novel way to overcome the donor shortage of islet transplantation.