PubReading [292] - Acquisition of Dynamic Function in Human Stem Cell-Derived b Cells - L. Velazco-Cruz, J. Millman et al.

Recent advances in human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) differentiation protocols have generated insulin-producing cells resembling pancreatic b cells. While these stem cell-derived b (SC-b) cells are capable of undergoing glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), insulin secretion per cell remains low compared with islets and cells lack dynamic insulin release. Herein, we report a differentiation strategy focused on modulating transforming growth factor b (TGF-b) signaling, controlling cellular cluster size, and using an enriched serum-free media to generate SC-b cells that express b cell markers and undergo GSIS with first- and second-phase dynamic insulin secretion. Transplantation of these cells into mice greatly improves glucose tolerance. These results reveal that specific time frames for inhibiting and permitting TGF-b signaling are required during SC-b cell differentiation to achieve dynamic function. The capacity of these cells to undergo GSIS with dynamic insulin release makes them a promising cell source for diabetes cellular therapy.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.12.012 - 2019