Use of Differentiated Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Experimental Diabetes Type 1 in Rats

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the use of differentiated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in an attempt of treating artificially induced type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) in rats. The study subsequientially compares between the outcomes of utilizing differentiated versus the undifferentiated MSCs for treatment of experimental type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM).Methods: This work included both an in vitro and an in vivo study. MSCs derived from the bone marrow of rats were characterized by RT-PCR for CD29 expression. MSCs were differentiated into pancreatic ß cells by using excendin-4 and TGF-ß. Smad2 gene expression was monitored by PCR and insulin amounts were measured in the medium.Ninety female while albino rats were divided equally (n=15/group) into 6 groups: healthy control, healthy control rats receiving acellular tissue culture medium, diabeteic rats, diabetic rats receiving acellular tissue culture medium, diabetic rats receiving undifferentiated MSCs, and diabetic rats receiving differentiated MSCs. Experimental diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal (IP) injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in rats.Histopathological examination and gene expression of Insulin2, Smad2, Smad3, Pax4 and neuro D by real time, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in rat pancreatic tissue and estimation of serum levels of insulin and glucose were performed in all groups.Results: Diabetic rats which had recieved MSCs (both differentiated and undifferentiated) showed lower plasma glucose levels and high serum insulin levels with expression of Insulin2, Smad2, Smad3, Pax4 and neuro D by real time, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in rat pancreatic tissue.Of those receiving differentiated MCSs, results showed higher serum insulin levels and lower serum glucose levels as compared to those receiving undifferentiated MSCs.Conclusion: Rat bone marrow harbors cells that have the capacity to differentiate into insulin producing cells capable of controlling blood glucose level in diabetic rats. This may provide a source of cell-based therapy for DM. Furthermore differentiated MSCs are found to be better than undifferentiated MSCs in treatment of experimental type I diabetes mellitus.