Insulin-like growth factor-I promotes hepatic differentiation of human adipose tissue-derived stem cells.

There are numerous studies which provide support for the use of human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (hASCs) to generate hepatocyte-like cells. However, the produced cells exhibit only a certain level of differentiation, mainly due to inefficient induction conditions. Therefore, based on the important role of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) in hepatic function and development, in the current study we evaluated the differentiation efficacy of the mentioned factor to induce hASCs into functional hepatocyte-like cells. To investigate this, using a two-step protocol, hASCs were treated with a combination of HGF, Dex, and OSM in the presence or absence of IGF-I up to 21 days. Hepatic differentiation was evaluated by analyzing specific hepatocyte markers at different time points of differentiation induction. Increased expression of hepatocyte-specific genes including ALB, AFP, CK18, and HNF4a, downregulation of bile duct cells marker (CK19), the higher number of ALB positive cells, increased urea production together with higher glycogen deposit was observed upon the treatment of hASCs with the induction medium containing IGF-I compared to the other treatment. In conclusion, our findings suggest IGF-I as a potent inducer of hepatic differentiation of hASCs and its potential to generate more functional hepatocyte-like cells.

Kinetics of α-glucosidase inhibition by different fractions of three species of Labiatae extracts: a new diabetes treatment model.

CONTEXT: Glucosidases are a group of enzymes playing crucial roles in digestion of carbohydrates. Glucosidase inhibitors can reduce carbohydrate digestion rate and have the potential to prevent development of type 2 diabetes. The Labiatae is one of the largest plant families grown globally and many studies that have isolated new pharmaceutical compounds. In folk medicine, some of Labiatae plants such as Zataria multiflora Boiss, Salvia mirzayanii Rech. F. & Esfand, and Otostegia persica Boiss are consumed for the treatment of diabetes. OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the inhibitory effects of different fractions of three mentioned species extracts on α-glucosidase. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethanol extracts of these plants leaves were fractionated using petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol solutions. The duration of this study was 12 months. To measure enzyme inhibition, 5 µL of the enzyme, 20 µL of substrate and samples were used and for evaluation mode of inhibition, constant amounts of α-glucosidase were incubated with rising concentrations of substrate (PNPG). RESULTS: The results revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction of Zataria multiflora (IC50 = 0.35 ± 0.01 mg/mL) and petroleum ether fraction of Salvia mirzayanii (IC50 = 0.4 ± 0.11 mg/mL) were the most potent inhibitors of α-glucosidase in comparison with the other samples and acarbose as the standard (IC50 = 7 ± 0.19 mg/mL). All of the samples exhibited noncompetitive-uncompetitive inhibition. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It can be inferred from this study that α-glucosidase inhibitory potential of the studied extracts may be a marker of antidiabetic potential of these extracts.