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Updated: Mar 10, 2026
In vitro Induction of Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells Toward Pancreatic Lineages
Published on: September 25, 2021
Hydrogen sulfide enhances pancreatic β-cell differentiation from human tooth under normal and glucotoxic conditions
Ioan Valentin Matei1, Hisataka Ii1, Ken Yaegaki1
1Department of Oral Health, Nippon Dental University, School of Life Dentistry at Tokyo, 1-9-20 Chiyoda-ku, 102-8159 Tokyo, Japan.
Aim:
Glucotoxicity obstructs pancreatic differentiation from adult stem cells. The aim was to develop a novel protocol for differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) into pancreatic β cells and determine the effect of H2S on glucotoxicity.
Materials & Methods:
DPSCs were differentiated with media containing 5.5 or 25.0 mM glucose, exposed to 1 ng/ml H2S. Glucotoxicity, expression of β-cell markers, INS, PDX1 and GLUT2, and PI3K/AKT pathway were assessed.
Results:
H2S exposure increased insulin and C-peptide, and protected DPSC-derived pancreatic β-like cells from glucotoxicity and upregulated INS, PDX1 and GLUT2, and genes of PI3K/AKT pathway.
Conclusion:
H2S improved effects of glucotoxicity on β-like cells via PI3K/AKT pathway. The protocol for pancreatic β-cell differentiation might have applications in regenerative medicine rather than swine pancreas transplantation.
