Objectives: This study aims to investigate the characteristics of sheep pancreatic mesenchymal stem cells (PSCs) and therapeutic potential of differentiated β-like cells in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.
Methods: Pancreatic mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from 3- to 4-month-old sheep embryos, and their biological characteristics were explored. The function and therapeutic potential of differentiated β-like insulin-producing cells were also investigated in vitro and in vivo. Differentiated cells were identified through dithizone staining and immunofluorescence staining. Insulin secretion was analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. The preliminary therapeutic potential of induced β-like cells in diabetic mice was detected by blood glucose and body weight.
Results: Primary PSCs were isolated and subcultured up to passage 36. Immunofluorescence staining presented PSC-expressed important markers such as Pdx1, Nkx6-1, Ngn3, and Nestin. Primary PSCs could be induced into functional pancreatic β-like islet cells with a 3-step protocol. The induced β-like islet cells could ameliorate blood glucose in diabetic mice.
Conclusions: The method proposed for generating pancreatic islet β cells provided a preliminary phenotypic investigation of induced cell treatment in diabetic mice, and also laid a foundation in the identification of pharmaceutical targets to treat insulin-dependent diabetes.