Expansion and redifferentiation of adult human pancreatic islet cells

beta-cell replacement, represents the Ultimate Cure For type I diabetes, however it is limited by availability of organ donors. Adult human islets are difficult to propagate in culture, and efforts to expand thern result in dedifferentiation. Here we describe conditions for expansion of adult human islet cells, as well as a way for their redifferentiation. Most cells in islets isolated from human pancreata were induced to replicate within the first week of culture in expansion medium. Cells were propagated for 16 population doublings, without a change in replication rate or noticeable cell rnortality, representing all expansion of over 65,000-fold. Replication was accornpanied by a decrease in expression of key beta-cell genes. Shift of the cells to differentiation medium containing betacellulin resulted in redifferentiation, as manifested by restoration of beta-cell gene expression and insulin content. These niethods may allow transplantation of functional islet cells front single donors into Multiple recipients. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.