Neuronal Restrictive Silencing Factor Silencing Induces Human Amniotic Fluid-Derived Stem Cells Differentiation into Insulin-Producing Cells

作者：Li Baowei; Wang Sihan; Liu Hui; Liu Daqing; Zhang Jing; Zhang Bowen; Yao Hailei; Lv Yang; Wang Ruoyong; Chen Lin; Yue Wen; Li Yanhua^*; Pei Xuetao

来源：Stem Cells and Development, 2011, 20(7): 1223-1231.

DOI：10.1089/scd.2010.0195

Islet cell replacement represents the most promising approach for the treatment of type I diabetes. However, it is limited by a shortage of pancreas donors. Here, we report that human amniotic fluid-derived stem cells (hAFSCs) can be induced to differentiate into functional insulin-producing cells by knocking down neuronal restrictive silencing factor (NRSF). In this study, lentiviral vectors were used to deliver small interference NRSF (siNRSF) RNA into hAFSCs. After infection with lentivirus containing siNRSF, hAFSCs were successfully induced to differentiate into insulin-producing cells. The differentiated siNRSF-hAFSCs expressed genes specific for islet cells, such as Pdx1, Hnf4 alpha, Isl-1, Nkx6.1, Insulin, and Glut2. These cells also produced and released C-peptide in a glucose-responsive manner. These findings indicated that hAFSCs could be induced to differentiate into insulin-producing beta-like cells by NRSF silencing.

• 出版日期2011-7