:
Stem cell-based therapy is one of the therapeutic options with promising results in the treatment of diabetes.
Stem cells from various sources are expanded and induced to generate the cells capable of secreting insulin. These insulinproducing cells [IPCs] could be used as an alternative to islets in the treatment of patients with diabetes. Soluble growth
factors, small molecules, gene-encoding transcription factors, and microRNAs [miRNAs] are commonly used for the induction of stem cell differentiation. MiRNAs are small non-coding RNAs with 21-23 nucleotides that are involved in the
regulation of gene expression by targeting multiple mRNA targets. Studies have shown the dynamic expression of miRNAs during pancreatic development and stem cell differentiation. MiR-7 and miR-375 are the most abundant miRNAs in
pancreatic islet cells and play key roles in pancreatic development and islet cell functions. Some studies have tried to use
these small RNAs for the induction of pancreatic differentiation. This review focuses on the miRNAs used in the induction of stem cells into IPCs and discusses their functions in pancreatic β-cells.
Electrospinning is a method that has a high potential for use in tissue engineering due to its simplicity, cheapness, versatility, and high applicability for preparing of composite nanofibrous scaffolds. In this study, nanofibrous scaffolds were made of poly‐l‐lactic acid (PLLA) and Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) polymers by electrospinning single‐nozzle (combined polymers: C‐PLLA/PHB) and two‐nozzle (separated polymers: S‐PLLA/PHB). Constructed scaffolds were characterized using SEM, in vitro degradation, cell attachment, protein adsorption, and nontoxicity assays. Then, scaffolds osteoconductive capacity was investigated by culturing adipose‐derived stem cells (ADSCs) and by evaluating common osteogenic markers. Obtained results displayed that fibers diameter, scaffold degradation, and biocompatibility of S‐PLLA/PHB nanofibrous scaffold were increased compared to the C‐PLLA/PHB nanofibers. In addition, significantly increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, calcium content, and osteogenic‐related gene expression were also observed in the ADSCs cultured on S‐PLLA/PHB nanofibrous scaffold compared to the cultured cells on C‐PLLA/PHB nanofibrous scaffold. Overall, this study shows that using two‐nozzle electrospinning to constructing PLLA/PHB nanofibrous scaffold can improve its osteoconductive capacity, and also its combination with ADSCs can be a promising candidate to use in bone tissue engineering.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.