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Updated: Jun 14, 2026
Isolating and Analyzing Cells of the Pancreas Mesenchyme by Flow Cytometry
Published on: January 28, 2017
Expression of pancreatic endocrine markers by mesenchymal stem cells from human umbilical cord vein
T M Santos1, L S Percegona, P González
1Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba.
Background:
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from human umbilical cord vein have great potential for use in cell therapy because of their ease of isolation, expansion, and differentiation, in addition to their relative acceptance from the ethical point of view. Obtaining the umbilical cord at birth does not present any risk to either mother or child.
Objective:
To isolate and promote in vitro expansion and differentiation of MSCs from human umbilical cord vein into cells with a pancreatic endocrine phenotype.
Methods:
Mesenchymal stem cells obtained from human umbilical cord vein via collagenase digestion were characterized at cytochemistry and fluorescent-activated cell sorting, and expanded in vitro. Differentiation of MSCs into an endocrine phenotype was induced using high-glucose (23 mmol/L) medium containing nicotinamide, exendin-4, and 2-mercaptoethanol. Expression of insulin, somatostatin, glucagon, and pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 was analyzed using immunofluorescence.
Results:
Cells isolated from the umbilical cord vein were MSCs as confirmed at cytochemistry and fluorescent-activated cell sorting. Expression of somatostatin, glucagon, and pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 by differentiated cells was demonstrated using immunofluorescence. Insulin was not expressed.
Conclusions:
The MSC differentiation protocol used in the present study induced expression of some endocrine markers. Insulin was not produced by these cells, probably because of incomplete induction of differentiation.
