Clinical Research
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 28, 2006; 12(28): 4529-4535
Published online Jul 28, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i28.4529
Characterization of pancreatic stem cells derived from adult human pancreas ducts by fluorescence activated cell sorting
Han-Tso Lin, Shih-Hwa Chiou, Chung-Lan Kao, Yi-Ming Shyr, Chien-Jen Hsu, Yih-Wen Tarng, Larry L-T Ho, Ching-Fai Kwok, Hung-Hai Ku
Han-Tso Lin, Department of Medical Research and Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, 11217, Taiwan, China
Shih-Hwa Chiou, Department of Medical Research and Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, and Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 11221, Taiwan, China
Chung-Lan Kao, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, 11217, Taiwan, China
Yi-Ming Shyr, Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, 11217, Taiwan, China
Chien-Jen Hsu, Yih-Wen Tarng, Department of Orthopedics, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital; Kaohsiung, 81346, Taiwan, China
Larry L-T Ho, Ching-Fai Kwok, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, 11217, Taiwan, China
Hung-Hai Ku, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, 11221, Taiwan, China
Supported by National Science Council, Yen-Tjing-Ling Medical Foundation and Taipei Veterans General Hospital
Co-first-authors: Han-Tso Lin, Shih-Hwa Chiou, Chung-Lan Kao
Correspondence to: Hung-Hai Ku, PhD, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, 11221, Taiwan, China. hhku@ym.edu.tw
Telephone: +886-2-28267073 Fax: +886-2-28212884
Received: June 28, 2005
Revised: July 12, 2005
Accepted: July 20, 2005
Published online: July 28, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To isolate putative pancreatic stem cells (PSCs) from human adult tissues of pancreas duct using serum-free, conditioned medium. The characterization of surface phenotype of these PSCs was analyzed by flow cytometry. The potential for pancreatic lineage and the capability of β-cell differentiation in these PSCs were evaluated as well.

METHODS: By using serum-free medium supplemented with essential growth factors, we attempted to isolate the putative PSCs which has been reported to express nestin and pdx-1. The Matrigel™ was employed to evaluate the differential capacity of isolated cells. Dithizone staining, insulin content/secretion measurement, and immunohistochemistry staining were used to monitor the differentiation. Fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) was used to detect the phenotypic markers of putative PSCs.

RESULTS: A monolayer of spindle-like cells was cultivated. The putative PSCs expressed pdx-1 and nestin. They were also able to differentiate into insulin-, glucagon-, and somatostatin-positive cells. The spectrum of phenotypic markers in PSCs was investigated; a similarity was revealed when using human bone marrow-derived stem cells as the comparative experiment, such as CD29, CD44, CD49, CD50, CD51, CD62E, PDGFR-α, CD73 (SH2), CD81, CD105(SH3).

CONCLUSION: In this study, we successfully isolated PSCs from adult human pancreatic duct by using serum-free medium. These PSCs not only expressed nestin and pdx-1 but also exhibited markers attributable to mesenchymal stem cells. Although work is needed to elucidate the role of these cells, the application of these PSCs might be therapeutic strategies for diabetes mellitus.

Keywords: Putative pancreas stem cell; Nestin; pdx-1; Phenotypic marker