Effects of hyaluronic acid on differentiation of human amniotic epithelial cells and cell-replacement therapy in type 1 diabetic mice.

Effects of hyaluronic acid on differentiation of human amniotic epithelial cells and cell-replacement therapy in type 1 diabetic mice. Exp Cell Res. 2019 Sep 25;:111642 Authors: Luo Y, Cheng YW, Yu CY, Liu RM, Zhao YJ, Chen DX, Zhong JJ, Xiao JH Abstract Our hypothesis is that hyaluronic acid may regulate the differentiation of human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) into insulin-producing cells and help the treatment of type 1 diabetes. Herein, a protocol for the stepwise in vitro differentiation of hAECs into functional insulin-producing cells was developed by mimicking the process of pancreas development. Treatment of hAECs with hyaluronic acid enhanced their differentiation of definitive endoderm and pancreatic progenitors. Endodermal markers Sox17 and Foxa2 and pancreatic progenitor markers Pax6, Nkx6.1, and Ngn3 were upregulated an enhanced gene expression in hAECs, but hAECs did not express the β cell-specific transcription factor Pdx1. Interestingly, hyaluronic acid promoted the expression of major pancreatic development-related genes and proteins after combining with commonly used inducers of stem cells differentiation into insulin-producing cells. This indicated the potent synergistic effects of the combination on hAECs differentiation in vitro. By establishing a multiple injection transplantation strategy via tail vein injections, hAECs transplantation significantly reduced hyperglycemia symptoms, increased the plasma ins...
Source: Experimental Cell Research - Category: Cytology Authors: Tags: Exp Cell Res Source Type: research