Abstract

Nowadays, stem cells have been introduced as an appropriate source of regenerative medicine for treatment of type I diabetes. Human umbilical cord matrix-derived mesenchymal cells (hUCMC) have successfully been differentiated into insulin producing cells. The isolated hUCM cells were characterized by the expression of stem cell surface markers and by differentiation into adipocytes and osteocytes. The hUCMCs were cultured with different concentrations of neural conditional medium (NCM) and were induced to differentiate into insulin producing cells (IPCs). As 60% NCM concentration resulted in higher nestin and PDX1 expression, the cells were first exposed to 60% NCM and were then induced for IPCs differentiation. PDX1 and insulin gene expression was evaluated in the treated cells. Also, the secretion capacity of the IPCs was assessed by glucose challenge test. IPCs were transferred under the rat kidney capsule. Blood glucose level, weight gain and immunohistochemistry assessments were done in the treated animals. hUCMC expressed mesenchymal cell surface markers and successfully differentiated into adipocytes and osteocytes. Higher NCM concentration resulted in higher PDX1 and nestin expression. The IPCs expressed insulin and PDX1. IPCs were detectable under the kidney capsule 2 months after injection. IPCs transplantation resulted in a sharp decline of blood sugar level and less weight loss. Differentiated hUCM cells could alleviate the insulin deprivation in the rat model of type I diabetes. In addition, higher NCM concentration leads to more differentiation into IPCs and more nestin and PDX1 expression. Kidney capsule can serve as a suitable nominee for IPCs transplantation.