The in vitro differentiation of rat neural stem cells into an insulin-expressing phenotype.

Journal article

Mature beta-cells and nerve cells share many functional similarities despite originating from different embryonic germ layers. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of neural stem cells (NSCs), isolated from foetal rat brain, as a starting material from which to generate functionally responsive, insulin-containing cells. Our results demonstrated that NSCs can be significantly expanded in vitro and can be induced to express increased preproinsulin mRNA levels. In addition, the...

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Authors: Burns, C; Minger, S; Hall, S; Milne, H; Ramracheya, R

• Journal: Biochemical and biophysical research communications
• Volume: 326
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 570-577
• Publication date: 2005-01-01
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.11.062
• EISSN: 1090-2104
• ISSN: 0006-291X
• Language: English
• Keywords: Multipotent Stem Cells; Insulin; Islets of Langerhans; Transcription Factors; Cell Differentiation; Proinsulin; Prosencephalon; Male; Calcium; Rats; Glucose; Animals; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction