Enhanced differentiation of human amniotic fluid-derived stem cells into insulin-producing cells in vitro.

Aims/introduction: To investigate the ability of human amniotic fluid stem cells (hAFSCs) to differentiate into insulin-producing cells.

Materials And Methods: hAFSCs were induced to differentiate into pancreatic cells by a multistep protocol. The expressions of pancreas-related genes and proteins, including pancreatic and duodenal homeobox-1, insulin, and glucose transporter 2, were detected by polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence.

Expansion of NK cells by engineered K562 cells co-expressing 4-1BBL and mMICA, combined with soluble IL-21.

NK cells hold promise for protecting hosts from cancer and pathogen infection through direct killing and expressing immune-regulatory cytokines. In our study, a genetically modified K562 cell line with surface expression of 4-1BBL and MICA was constructed to expand functional NK cells in vitro for further adoptive immunotherapy against cancer. After a long-term up to 21 day co-culture with newly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in the presence of soluble IL-21 (sIL-21), notable increase in proportion of expanded NK cells was observed, especially the CD56(bright)CD16(+) subset.