Circulating Insulin Producing Stem Cells

Chicago, IL –

The generation of stem cells from peripheral blood would be very appealing due to the possibility of autologous use, as well as lack of invasiveness during extraction. In a recent paper (Zhao et al. A unique human blood-derived cell population displays high potential for producing insulin. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2007 Aug 17;360(1):205-11) a type of stem cell called peripheral blood insulin producing stem cell (PB-IPC) was announced.

These peripheral blood derived insulin producing cells expressed Nanog, Oct-4, CD9, CD45 and c-kit, but did not express CD34. The investigators demonstrated that these cells can be transplanted into murine models of diabetes and reverse hyperglycemia.

It will be interesting to see if these circulating stem cells can be mobilized by administration of G-CSF, or if alternatively, if artificially induced diabetes by streptozoicin can cause their mobilization.