Insulin-secreting cells differentiation derived from human embryonic germ cells

Diabetes mellitus affects millions of people in the world. Islet replacement strategies are becoming increasingly attractive options for patients at risk for severe diabetic complications. A major limitation of these approaches is the limited number of organs and the efficacy, safety and supply that restrict the available for islet transplantation. Recently, scientists have reported that stem cells promise a plentiful and flexible source for transplantation therapy. Here we used 10 ng/mL hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), 10 μM nicotinamide in PRMI 1640 to induce human embryonic germ cells (hEGCs) to differentiate into insulin producing cells. The results demonstrate that HGF and nicotinamide can promote the efficacy of insulin-secreting cells formation derived from embryoid bodies (EBs) derived hEGCs. The percentage of Dithizone (DTZ) positive, insulin, PDX-1, CK-19, Nestin positive in induced groups were significantly higher than the control. More importantly, levels of insulin-secreting after stimulation with high concentration glucose in inducing cells were significantly higher than the control (P<;;0.01). These results showed that cells derived from hEGCs expressed markers of definitive endoderm, pancreatic β cells, with the ability of glucose sensing and production of mature insulin. These cells integrated functions necessary for glucose responsive regulation of insulin in vitro. These findings suggest that hEGCs derivatives may eventually serve as a source of insulin producing cells for the treatment of diabetes.