(Journal Article): Characterization and isolation of promoter-defined nestin-positive cells from the human fetal pancreas.
 
Humphrey RK, Bucay N, Beattie GM, Lopez A, Messam CA, Cirulli V, Hayek A (The Islet Research Laboratory, Whittier Institute for Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.)
 
IN: Diabetes 2003; 52(10):2519-2525
Impact Factor(s) of Diabetes: 8.848 (2004), 8.298 (2003), 8.256 (2002), 7.7 (2001)

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ABSTRACT: Studies using adult human islets and mouse embryonic stem cells have suggested that the neurepithelial precursor cell marker nestin also identifies and can be used to purify beta-cell precursors. To determine whether nestin can be used to identify beta-cell progenitors in the developing human pancreas, we characterized nestin expression from 12 to 24 gestational weeks, purified nestin+ cells using an enhancer/promoter-driven selection plasmid, and determined whether nestin+ cells can differentiate into beta-cells. Nestin was visualized in the platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule and alpha smooth muscle actin-positive blood vessels and colocalized with vimentin in the interstitium. Nestin was not observed in pan cytokeratin (pCK)-positive ductal epithelium or insulin cells. Purified nestin+ cells also coexpressed vimentin and lacked pCK immunoreactivity. Purified adult and fetal pancreatic fibroblasts also expressed nestin. The nestin enhancer/promoter used in the selection plasmid was sufficient to drive reporter gene expression, green fluorescent protein, in human fetal pancreatic tissue. Exposure of selected nestin+ cells to nicotinamide, hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor, betacellulin, activin A, or exendin-4 failed to induce pancreatic and duodenal homeobox gene-1 or insulin message as determined by RT-PCR. Transplantation of nestin+ cells and fetal pancreatic fibroblasts into athymic mice also failed to result in the development of beta-cells, whereas nestin- fetal pancreatic epithelial cells gave rise to functional insulin-secreting beta-cells. We conclude that nestin is not a specific marker of beta-cell precursors in the developing human pancreas.

TYPE OF PUBLICATION: Original article

Articles citing this article:

• Hao E, Tyrberg B, Itkin-Ansari P, Lakey JR, Geron I, Monosov EZ, Barcova M, Mercola M, Levine F. Beta-cell differentiation from nonendocrine epithelial cells of the adult human pancreas. Nat Med 2006. 12: 310-316.
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