Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Into Insulin Producing Cells By Using A Lentiviral Vector Carrying Pdx1

Objective: type i diabetes is an immunologically-mediated devastation of insulin producingcells (ipcs) in the pancreatic islet. stem cells that produce b-cells are a newpromising tool. adult stem cells such as mesenchymal stem cells (mscs) are self renewingmulti potent cells showing capabilities to differentiate into ectodermal, mesodermaland endodermal tissues. pancreatic and duodenal homeobox factor 1 (pdx1)is a master regulator gene required for embryonic development of the pancreas andis crucial for normal pancreatic islets activities in adults.materials and methods: we induced the over-expression of the pdx1 gene in humanbone marrow mscs (bm-mscs) by lenti-pdx1 in order to generate ipcs. next, we examinethe ability of the cells by measuring insulin/c-peptide production and insulin andpdx1 gene expressions.results: after transduction, mscs changed their morphology at day 5 and gradually differentiatedinto ipcs. insulin and pdx1 expressions were confirmed by real time polymerasechain reaction (rt-pcr) and immunostaining. ipc secreted insulin and c-peptidein the media that contained different glucose concentrations.conclusion: mscs differentiated into ipcs by genetic manipulation. our resultshowed that lentiviral vectors could deliver pdx1 gene to mscs and induce pancreaticdifferentiation.