The promising role of hypoxia-resistant insulin-producing cells in ameliorating diabetes mellitus in vivo

Hanaa H Ahmed; Hadeer A Aglan; Hanan H Beherei; Mostafa Mabrouk; Nadia S Mahmoud

doi:10.2144/fsoa-2022-0005

The promising role of hypoxia-resistant insulin-producing cells in ameliorating diabetes mellitus in vivo

Future Sci OA. 2022 Sep 14;8(7):FSO811. doi: 10.2144/fsoa-2022-0005. eCollection 2022 Aug.

Authors

Hanaa H Ahmed^{1

2}, Hadeer A Aglan^{1

2}, Hanan H Beherei³, Mostafa Mabrouk³, Nadia S Mahmoud^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Hormones Department, Medical Research & Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre, Giza, 12622, Egypt.
² Stem Cells Lab, Center of Excellence for Advanced Sciences, National Research Centre, Giza, 12622, Egypt.
³ Refractories, Ceramics & Building Materials Department, Advanced Materials Technology & Mineral Resources Research Institute, National Research Centre, Giza, 12622, Egypt.

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of hypoxia-persistent insulin-producing cells (IPCs) against diabetes in vivo.

Materials & methods: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiation into IPCs in the presence of Se/Ti (III) or CeO₂ nanomaterials. IPCs were subjected to hypoxia and hypoxia genes were analyzed. PKH-26-labeled IPCs were infused in diabetic rats to evaluate their anti-diabetic potential.

Results: MSCs were differentiated into functional IPCs. IPCs exhibited overexpression of anti-apoptotic genes and down-expression of hypoxia and apoptotic genes. IPCs implantation elicited glucose depletion and elevated insulin, HK and G6PD levels. They provoked VEGF and PDX-1 upregulation and HIF-1α and Caspase-3 down-regulation. IPCs transplantation ameliorated the destabilization of pancreatic tissue architecture.

Conclusion: The chosen nanomaterials were impressive in generating hypoxia-resistant IPCs that could be an inspirational strategy for curing diabetes.

Keywords: diabetes mellitus; hypoxia; insulin-producing cells; mesenchymal stem cells; nanomaterials.