Optimized Protocol for Generating Functional Pancreatic Insulin-secreting Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

J Vis Exp. 2024 Feb 2:(204). doi: 10.3791/65530.

Abstract

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can differentiate into any kind of cell, making them an excellent alternative source of human pancreatic β-cells. hPSCs can either be embryonic stem cells (hESCs) derived from the blastocyst or induced pluripotent cells (hiPSCs) generated directly from somatic cells using a reprogramming process. Here a video-based protocol is presented to outline the optimal culture and passage conditions for hPSCs, prior to their differentiation and subsequent generation of insulin-producing pancreatic cells. This methodology follows the six-stage process for β-cell directed differentiation, wherein hPSCs differentiate into definitive endoderm (DE), primitive gut tube, posterior foregut fate, pancreatic progenitors, pancreatic endocrine progenitors, and ultimately pancreatic β-cells. It is noteworthy that this differentiation methodology takes a period of 27 days to generate human pancreatic β-cells. The potential of insulin secretion was evaluated through two experiments, which included immunostaining and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion.

Publication types

  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Cell Differentiation
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells*
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells*
  • Pancreas
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells*