In Vivo Bioluminescence Imaging of Transplanted Mesenchymal Stem Cells as a Potential Source for Pancreatic Regeneration

Abstract

Stem cell therapy has been studied intensively as a promising therapeutic strategy toward a cure for diabetes. To study the effect of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation for pancreatic regeneration, we monitored the localization and distribution of transplanted MSCs by bioluminescence imaging in a mouse model. Bone marrow MSCs were isolated and transfected with a highly sensitive firefly luciferase reporter gene. To assess the efficiency of MSC transplantation, a partially pancreatectomized (PPx) mouse model was used. Transplanted MSCs were monitored by confocal microscopy and in vivo bioluminescence imaging. Daily blood glucose levels and glucose tolerance were measured. Insulin-secreting beta cells were immunostained, and insulin levels were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Bioluminescence signals were clearly detected from the transplanted MSCs in the pancreatic region regardless of injection route. However, locally injected MSCs exhibited more rapid proliferation than ductally injected MSCs. PPx mice harboring transplanted MSCs gradually recovered from impaired glucose tolerance. Although insulin secretion was not observed in MSCs, transplanted MSCs facilitate the injured pancreas to recover its function. In vivo optical imaging of transplanted MSCs using a highly sensitive luciferase reporter enables the assessment of MSC transplantation efficiency in a PPx mouse model.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Human Exocrine Pancreas Spontaneously Express Pancreas Progenitor‐Cell Markers in a Cell‐Passage‐Dependent Manner

“…Several reports showed that insulin-producing β -cells could differentiate from hMSCs [ 24 – 27 ]. Additionally, researchers verified that hMSCs might play a direct role in supporting differentiation into insulin-producing cells or in pancreatic regeneration [ 28 , 29 ]. These results demonstrated that hMSCs are an important source of cells that can differentiate into pancreatic β -cells.…”

Plastid Transformation

“…For example, plastid transformation is still possible only in a restricted number of flowering plant species (Table 13.1), and as protein glycosylation does not take place in plastids, the system is not suitable for expressing proteins that require glycosylation to be functional. Although strict maternal inheritance of plastids has been emphasized as an advantage of the system, it is now emerging that a low level of paternal aadA PEG [13][14][15] aphA-6 c Biolistics [16] Nicotine-free tobacco aadA Biolistics [17] Potato aadA Biolistics [18,19] Tomato aadA Biolistics [20] rrn16 mutation PEG [21] Petunia Lesquerella aadA Biolistics [24] Oilseed rape aadA Biolistics [25] Cauliflower aadA PEG [26] Cabbage aadA Biolistics [27] Lettuce aadA PEG [28] aadA Biolistics [29,30] Cotton aphA-6 and nptII d Biolistics [31] Carrot aadA Biolistics [32] Soybean aadA Biolistics [33] Rice aadA Biolistics [34] Poplar aadA Biolistics [35] a rrn16 mutation confers resistance to spectinomycin. b aad A confers resistance to spectinomycin and streptomycin.…”