Different combinations of GABA, BMP7, and Activin A induced the in vitro differentiation of rat pancreatic ductal stem cells into insulin-secreting islet-like cell clusters.

Aims: We investigated the in vitro differentiation of adult rat PDESCs into β-like cells through supplementation of different combinations of GABA, BMP7, and Activin A in basic culture media.

Materials And Methods: The PDESCs were cultured using different inducement combinations for 28 days and microscopy, dithizone (DTZ) staining, immunohistochemical staining, real-time PCR, and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) assay were used to delineate the differentiation inducement potential of these combinations.

Key Findings: The results show that after 28 days, the PDESCs were differentiated into ICCs containing insulin-secreting β-like cells in different groups treated with A + B, A + G, B + G, and A + B + G but not in the control group. Upon DTZ staining the cells in ICCs were stained crimson red, demonstrating the presence of β-like cells in ICCs and the immunohistochemistry showed the expression of Pdx1 and insulin in ICCs. Further, on 28 d the expression of Pdx1 and insulin mRNA was high in inducement groups as compared to the control group and β-like cells in ICCs also secreted insulin and C-peptide upon glucose stimulation. Thus, the supplementation of GABA, BMP7, and Activin A in different combinations in basic culture media can induce the in vitro differentiation of PDESCs into ICCs containing β-like cells.

Significance: The in vitro development of β-like cells is a herald for cell therapy of diabetic patients and our results are a step closer towards finding the cure for diabetes.