Generation of Islet Like Cell Cluster from Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Umbilical Cord Wharton s Jelly and Cord Blood for Therapeutic Potential in Mice with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Background: A successful isolation of Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for its clinical application is very important. Isolation of MSCs from neonatal sources like human umbilical cord, Wharton s jelly (hUCWJ) have been reported in many studies and are considered primitive, but isolation of MSCs from human umbilical cord blood (hUCB) was open for discussion. The neonate derived sources are non-controversial and easily available source which are often discarded as biological waste. MSCs derived from this sources has the ability to cross the lineage boundary and differentiate towards endodermal lineage. Type-1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is due to autoimmune beta cell destruction, usually leading to absolute insulin deficiency. Presently T1DM is managed by exogenous insulin therapy and whole pancreas or islet transplantation is possible but this treatment is for short term and immune modulation is a challenge. Permanent long term treatment for T1DM is the need of the time. Therefore, this study aimed to isolate and evaluate the islet like cluster (ILCs) regeneration from MSCs derived from extra-embryonic sources i.e. hUCWJ and hUCB and examined its capacity to produce insulin in vitro. Furthermore, the study was designed to transplant the differentiated and undifferentiated cell to Streptozotocin (STZ) induce diabetic mice to examine its therapeutic (hypoglycemic) effects. Conclusions: It can be concluded from the present study that MSCs cannot be isolated from hUCB which fulfilled only the first criteria of ISCT. But, MSCs isolated from hUCWJ by explant newlinemethod fulfilled all the defining criteria of ISCT and in vitro these cells can trans-differentiate into mature ILCs. These cluster has the ability to produce insulin in vitro and vivo. Therefore, hUCWJ appear to be a reliable and rich source of stem cells for ILCs trans-differentiation due to its availability and its low immunogenicity. newline