Islet-like cells differentiated from murine pancreatic ductal epithelial cells implanted to diabetic mice

Objective To investigate the differentiation of stem cells deived from mouse pancreatic ductal epithelial cells toward insulin secreting cells and the potential application for diabetes therapy. Methods Pancreatic ductal epithelial cells were separated and differentiated into islet-like cells. Study was performed to determine whether these islet-like clusters could secrete insulin in response to glucose both in vivo and in vitro. Results Pancreatic ductal epithelial cells were separated and cultured in vitro. The expression of insulin mRNA in the stem cells was significantly up-regulated （1. 892 ± 0. 119 vs 3. 135±0. 092,P 〈0. 05）, and also in glucagon （ 1. 564 ±0. 087 vs 2. 271 ±0. 042,P 〈0.05）. Immunofluoresence staining indicated that there were a lot of insulin positive cells. Insulin released from ceils in response to glucose stimulation in vitro was increased [ （ 52. 3±10. 5 ） mmol/L vs （ 30. 2± 9. 7 ） mmol/L, P 〈 0. 05 ]. Hyperglycemia in diabetic animals was alleviated after cell transplantation. Conclusion Islet-like cell clusters generated in vitro from Kunming mice pancreatic ductal epithelial cells could secrete insulin and have some effects on reversing the diabetes in diabetic mice. Key words: Pancreas stem cells ;  Islets of langerhans ;  Differentiation ;  Transplantation