Spontaneous recovery from hyperglycemia by regeneration of pancreatic beta-cells in Kir6.2G132S transgenic mice.

The ATP-sensitive K(+) channel (K(ATP) channel) in pancreatic beta-cells is a critical regulator in insulin secretion. We previously reported that transgenic mice expressing a dominant-negative form (Kir6.2G132S) of Kir6.2, a subunit of the K(ATP) channel, specifically in beta-cells develop severe hyperglycemia in adults (8 weeks of age). In this study, we conducted a long-term investigation of the phenotype of these transgenic mice. Surprisingly, hyperglycemia was spontaneously improved with concomitant improvement of pancreatic insulin content in the transgenic mice at >25 weeks of age. Insulin-positive cells and pancreatic duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX1)-positive cells both were clearly increased in the older compared with the younger transgenic mice. Interestingly, cells labeled with the lectin Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), a potential indicator of uncommitted pancreatic epithelial/ductal cells, were detected in the islets of the transgenic mice but not in those of wild-type mice. In addition, a subset of the DBA-labeled cells was positive for PDX1, insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, or pancreatic polypeptide. Moreover, some of the DBA-labeled cells were also positive for a proliferating cell marker. These results show that the Kir6.2G132S transgenic mouse is a useful model for studying beta-cell regeneration and that DBA-labeled cells participate in the process.

Lineage tracing and characterization of insulin-secreting cells generated from adult pancreatic acinar cells.

Although several studies have suggested that insulin-secreting cells can be generated in vitro from cells residing in adult exocrine pancreas, neither the origin of these cells nor their precise insulin secretory properties was obtained. We show here that insulin-secreting cells can be derived from adult mouse pancreatic exocrine cells by suspension culture in the presence of EGF and nicotinamide. The frequency of insulin-positive cells was only 0.01% in the initial preparation and increased to approximately 5% in the culture conditions. Analysis by the Cre/loxP-based direct cell lineage tracing system indicates that these newly made cells originate from amylase/elastase-expressing pancreatic acinar cells. Insulin secretion is stimulated by glucose, sulfonylurea, and carbachol, and potentiation by glucagon-like peptide-1 also occurs. Insulin-containing secretory granules are present in these cells. In addition, we found that the enzymatic dissociation of pancreatic acini itself leads to activation of EGF signaling, and that inhibition of EGF receptor kinase blocks the transdifferentiation. These data demonstrate that pancreatic acinar cells can transdifferentiate into insulin-secreting cells with secretory properties similar to those of native pancreatic beta cells, and that activation of EGF signaling is required in such transdifferentiation.

Establishment of clonal colony-forming assay system for pancreatic stem/progenitor cells.

Pluripotent stem cells found in a number of organs are usually in small cell populations. However, under adaptive stimulation, they enter the stage of growth and differentiation to compensate for the loss of differentiated cells. To analyze stem cell potential precisely, the exclusion of other differentiated cells and a clonal assay system are strongly required. In this study, we established a colony-forming assay system for pancreatic stem/progenitor cells in vitro. In this culture condition, they received signals for growth and differentiation, and formed clonal colonies including pancreatic endocrine-lineage cells, such as alpha and beta cells. By combining this culture system with flow cytometric cell sorting, pancreatic stem/progenitor cells will be enriched, and their potential can be analyzed precisely in single cell-based experiments.