• Improving of transdifferentiation, function and survival rate in microencapsulated ꞵ-cell: in-vitro and in-vivo study
  • Davood Zaeifi,1,* Mahnaz Azarnia,2
    1. Biology department, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tehran North Branch of Islamic Azad University
    2. Biology department, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tehran North Branch of Islamic Azad University


  • Introduction: The objective of the study is to efficiently transdifferentiate rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) into islet-like cells, and encapsulate and transplant them while maintaining vital properties like stability, cell proliferation, and metabolic activity for the treatment of T1DM.
  • Methods: Trans-differentiation of BM-MCs into islet-like cells induced by high glucose concentration combined with Nicotinamide, ꞵ-mercaptoethanol, ꞵ-cellulin, and IGF-1. Glucose challenge assays and gene expression profiles were used to determine functionality. Microencapsulation was performed using the vibrating nozzle encapsulator droplet method with a 1% alginate concentration. Encapsulated beta-cells that had been cultured in a fluidized-bed bioreactor to measure their metabolic activity and viability were then transplanted into the omentum of STZ-induced diabetic Wistar rats, and their blood sugar and weight were monitored for two months.
  • Results: Based on the induction protocol, PDX1, INS, GCG, NKx2.2, NKx6.1, and GLUT2 expression profiles revealed the specificity of generated pancreatic islet cells. Post-islet-like cell transplantation reduced the glucose levels of the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rats significantly (P< 0.05). In contrast to treated, STZ-induced rats who did not receive encapsulated islets displayed a consistent decline in weight and died when loss reached >20 percent at day ~55.
  • Conclusion: Enhancing the conditions and means of differentiation and protection of encapsulated cells, particularly for pancreatic beta cells with a limited supply, may be a promising approach for safe cell therapy.
  • Keywords: transdifferentiation, microcapsules, endocrine beta-cells, mesenchymal stem cells, insulin secretion