DIFFERENTIATION OF HUMAN UMBILICAL CORD MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS INTO INSULIN PRODUCING BETA CELLS FOR DIABETIC THERAPY.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential of using human umbilical cord tissue as a source of mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into functional pancreatic β-cells. Method: Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), which have a low risk of immune rejection, were isolated, cultured in-vitro and characterized by Flowcytometry and immunocytochemistry. Further they were differentiated successfully in-vitro into functional pancreatic β-cells using H-DMEM (25 mM glucose/L) supplemented with β-Mercaptoethanol (0.1 mM/L), b-Fibroblast growth factor (10 ?g/L), Taurine (10 mM/L) and Nicotinamide (10 mM/L). Results: Umbilical cord sample of 8 cm length yielded 1.5*105? 0.5*105 cells after enzymatic digestion. These were passaged to confluence and were found by Flowcytometry to be CD-73+, CD-90+, CD-105+, Vimentin+, CD-34-, CD-45- and HLA-DR- indicating that 95% of cells were MSCs. These were differentiated for 25 days and 20% stained positive for Dithizone, which is a specific marker for pancreatic beta cells. Insulin secreted in the medium was evaluated with and without glucose stimulation. Conclusion: It is evident from this work that Umbilical cord tissue which is easily and ethically available is suitable to isolate MSCs, which have a potential to differentiate into insulin secreting β-cell in-vitro. These differentiated cells can be placed in-vivo either by Edmonton protocol into the pancreatic duct or embedded in omentum for managing both Type-1 and Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus. This is a promising treatment option, especially since recent literature proposes that pancreatic β-cell apoptosis is the underlying cause of both these pathologies.