1. Hedgehog signaling during expansion of human pancreatic islet-derived precursors.
- Author
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Gallo R, Grieco FA, Marselli L, Ferretti E, Gulino A, Marchetti P, and Dotta F
- Subjects
- Adult Stem Cells physiology, Cells, Cultured, Humans, Islets of Langerhans cytology, Mesenchymal Stem Cells metabolism, Signal Transduction physiology, Transcription Factors genetics, Transcription Factors metabolism, Zinc Finger Protein GLI1, Cell Proliferation, Hedgehog Proteins physiology, Islets of Langerhans physiology, Mesenchymal Stem Cells physiology
- Abstract
A detailed understanding of the molecular process involved in the proliferation of pancreatic precursor cells would provide key elements for developing new therapeutic strategies to cure type 1 diabetes. In the present study we investigated the potential involvement of hedgehog signaling in proliferating human pancreatic islet-derived mesenchymal (hPIDM) cells, a population of cells that can be successfully expanded and induced to differentiate into an insulin-secreting phenotype. Here we report that in these precursor cells a hedgehog signaling pathway is activated, as shown by Gli1 expression, and that a dose-dependent inhibition of such a pathway by cyclopamine results in a significant reduction of cell proliferation.
- Published
- 2008
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