Objective To investigate whether pancreatic progenitors and islets differentiated from human embryonic stem cells(hESCs) could correct hyperglycemia in non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mice.Methods We obtained pancreatic progenitors and islets derived from hES cells line YT1 according to the optimized four-stage differentiation protocol.Stage 1:definitive endoderm formation; Stage 2:pan creatic specialization; Stage 3:amplification of pancreatic progenitors,Stage 4:maturation of pancreatic islets.To observe the morphological changes of each stage and immunofluorescent expression of pancreatic and duodenal homeobox gene(PDX-1),glucagon,insulin,C-peptide,glucose transporter-2(Glut-2).The differentiated cells from stage 3 and stage 4 were then transplanted into one of the epididymal fat pads(EFP) of NOD/SCID mice.The survival and function of the graft were measured by immunohistochemistry and blood glucose monitor.Results The stage 4-differentiated pancreatic islets expressed mature β cell-specific markers such as glucagon,insulin and Glut 2,and even PDX-1 and C-peptide-double-positive.The stage 4-pancreatic islets had nearly 17.1％ insulin-positive cells as assayed by flow cytometry analysis.Differentiated pancreatic islets released insulin/C-peptide in response to glucose stimulation.After implantation into EFP of NOD/SCID mice,hES cell-derived human pancreatic progenitors and islets corrected hyperglycemia for at least 12 weeks.Conclusions Pancreatic progenitors and islets differentiated from hESCs can correct hyperglycemia in NOD/SCID mice.

BACKGROUND:Human pancreatic islet transplantation is a prospective curative treatment for diabetes. However, the lack of donor pancreases greatly limits this approach. One approach to overcome the limited supply of donor pancreases is to generate functional islets from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), a cell line with unlimited proliferative capacity, through rapid directed differentiation. This study investigated whether pancreatic insulin-producing cells (IPCs) differentiated from hESCs could correct hyperglycemia in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID)/non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, an animal model of diabetes.METHODS:We generated pancreatic IPCs from two hESC lines, YT1 and YT2, using an optimized four-stage differentiation protocol in a chemically defined culture system. Then, about 5-7 × 10(6) differentiated cells were transplanted into the epididymal fat pad of SCID/NOD mice (n = 20). The control group were transplanted with undifferentiated hESCs (n = 6). Graft survival and function were assessed using immunohistochemistry, and measuring serum human C-peptide and blood glucose levels.RESULTS:The pancreatic IPCs were generated by the four-stage differentiation protocol using hESCs. About 17.1% of differentiated cells expressed insulin, as determined by flow cytometry. These cells secreted insulin/C-peptide following glucose stimulation, similarly to adult human islets. Most of these IPCs co-expressed mature β cell-specific markers, including human C-peptide, GLUT2, PDX1, insulin, and glucagon. After implantation into the epididymal fat pad of SCID/NOD mice, the hESC-derived pancreatic IPCs corrected hyperglycemia for ≥ 8 weeks. None of the animals transplanted with pancreatic IPCs developed tumors during the time. The mean survival of recipients was increased by implanted IPCs as compared to implanted undifferentiated hESCs (P<0.0001).CONCLUSIONS:The results of this study confirmed that human terminally differentiated pancreatic IPCs derived from hESCs can correct hyperglycemia in SCID/NOD mice for ≥8 weeks.