ES to Islet

Seoul, Korea -

A recent study (Shim et al. Directed differentiation of human embryonic stem cells towards a pancreatic cell fate. Diabetologia. 2007 Apr 23) reported generation of functional islet-like cells from human ES cells through the following steps:

1. ES cells placed in suspension culture to promote embryoid body formation
2. Culture in serum
3. Add activin
4. Add retinoic acid

Cells were then transplanted into streptozotoicin treated mice and they were able to prevent hyperglycemia. The paper seems to describe that the actual in vivo transfer allowed the cells to mature yet another step.

In any case, this is yet another protocol teaching how to generate islet like cells that possess in vivo activity from ES cells.