Abstract:

BACKGROUND: In vitro experiment has shown that conventional induction-induced islet β-like cells differentiated from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells which limited its further application. The possibility of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from human umbilical cord differentiating into islet β-like cells in vitro has not yet been professionally reported.
OBJECTIVE: To verify the feasibility of differentiation of MSCs from human umbilical cord into islet β-like cells.
METHODS: Human umbilical cord cells were cultured by collagen enzyme digestion method. Following passage 2, MSCs from umbilical cord were induced by high-concentration glucose (25 mmol/L) DMEM (containing 10% fetal bovine serum) as well as basic fibroblast and niacinamide to differentiate into islet β-like cells. Morphological changes in MSCs were observed following induction under an inverted microscope. We stained the clusters with dithizone which is a zinc-chelating agent known to selectively stain pancreatic β-cells, because of their high zinc content. Insulin in treated cells was examined by immunocytochemistry.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Following high-glucose induction, the second passage of MSCs from umbilical cord formed cell mass, and DTZ-stained cell cluster formed. Immunocytochemistry results have confirmed that these cell clusters were positive for insulin. Above-described results have suggested that MSCs derived from human umbilical vein can be induced into islet β-cells in vitro. These islet β-cells can synthesize and store insulin.