Pancreatic islet derived stem cells can express co-stimulatory molecules of antigen-presenting cells

Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) are crucial intermediates in the generation of both innate and specific immune responses. It has long been understood that some APCs are resident in islets in situ as well as after isolation. Our aim was to investigate the presence of molecules involved in antigen presentation in rat pancreatic islet-derived stem cells (PI-SCs).

We used immunocytochemistry and reverse transcription polymerization chain reaction to study immunophenotypic characteristics; pluripotent-related gene expressions; transcripts coding for antigen-presenting surface proteins CD40, CD80, CD86; and major histocompatibility complex class II in addition to genes with known antiapoptotic functions including mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MAPKAPK2), tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3) interacting protein 1 (TNIP1) and BCL3 of the PI-SCs.

Rat PI-SCs were negative for CD45 as demonstrated by flow cytometry and for CD31, CD34, and CD71 as demonstrated by immunocytochemistry. Therefore, there was no evidence of hematopoietic precursors in the cultures. OCT4, SOX2, and REX1 were expressed by rat PI-SCs. We determined the expression of genes for antigen-presenting surface proteins CD40 and CD80, and genes with known antiapoptotic functions including MAPKAPK2, TNIP1 and BCL3, besides the surface protein, CD80, by flow cytometry.

Expression of these genes by rat PI-SCs implied that they could be involved in the regulation of immunity in islets, highlighting the influence of protective role-playing antiapoptotic mechanisms on pancreatic islet cells. This study offers the potential to understand the molecular mechanisms of a devastating disease, type-1 diabetes mellitus.