Liver Stem Cells Converted into Insulin Producers

Stem cells from the livers of adult rats have been induced to mature into cells capable of producing and secreting insulin, a trait usually found only in cells of pancreatic origin. The report on this work, published in the June 11, 2002, issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also reveals that when these cells were injected into diabetic mice, they were able to lower the animals' high blood sugar levels.

"Our major observation from this work is that adult stem cells from a non-pancreatic source can be pushed into becoming mature cells capable of producing and secreting insulin in response to glucose without genetically altering the mature cells,” said Dr. Lijun Yang of the University of Florida (Gainesville, USA; www.ufl.edu), who spearheaded the research.

In the study, the investigators isolated stem cells from adult rat livers, and then placed them in a glucose-rich solution. The cells began to express genes typical of pancreatic cells and ceased expression of the hepatocyte protein Hep-par. When stimulated with glucose, the cells synthesized and secreted insulin, a response enhanced by nicotinamide.

"The ability to grow insulin-producing cells from liver stem cells shows the remarkable potential of adult stem cells for future cell therapy,” explained Dr. Ammon B. Peck. "The ultimate goal is to be able to grow insulin-producing cells from the stem cells of patients for treating their diabetes, and this will most likely require stem cells from a nonpancreatic source, such as the liver or bone marrow.”

A major question to be answered by future research is whether the change in cell type is permanent or whether the cells will revert to liver cells.
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