Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The amniotic membrane is the rejected material after birth. Amniotic mesenchymal stem cells are characterized as easy harvesting, strong proliferation ability, no ethical controversy, and low immunogenicity.

OBJECTIVE: To electrotransfer human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene into amniotic mesenchymal stem cells transplanted into diabetic rats and to explore its effect on diabetic rats.

METHODS: Human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells were isolated, cultured and electrotransferred by hTERT gene. Ten of 50 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized selected as controls, and the remaining rats were used to establish diabetic models through injection of 45 mg/kg streptozotocin. Thirty-six model rats were randomized into model group, cell transplantation group and hTERT-transfected cell transplantation group, with 12 rats in each group. In the latter two groups, human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells and hTERT-transfected amniotic mesenchymal stem cells were injected via sublingual veins, respectively. After transplantation, blood glucose levels were monitored dynamically, and plasma insulin concentration was detected every week. Pancreas tissues were taken and cut into sections for histological observation using hematoxylin-eosin staining.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At 4 weeks after transplantation, the blood glucose levels were significantly lower in the two cell transplantation groups than the model group (P < 0.05), and especially in the hTERT-transfected cell 
transplantation group, the blood glucose level was close to the normal value (P > 0.05). However, the model group still had a higher blood glucose level. At 6 weeks after transplantation, compared with the model group, the plasma insulin concentration was significantly increased in the two cell transplantation group (P < 0.05), and the severity of pancreatic injury was also eased in these two groups (P < 0.05), especially in the hTERT-transfected cell transplantation group (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that hTERT-transfected amniotic mesenchymal stem cell transplantation can dramatically decrease blood glucose level and relieve pancreatic injury in diabetic rats, which is an effective method for treatment of mellitus diabetes in rats.

中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞；骨髓干细胞；造血干细胞；脂肪干细胞；肿瘤干细胞；胚胎干细胞；脐带脐血干细胞；干细胞诱导；干细胞分化；组织工程

Key words: Stem Cells, Tissue Engineering, Blood Glucose, Diabetes Mellitus