Differentiation of CD133-positive pancreatic cells into insulin-producing islet-like cell clusters.

Adult pancreatic stem and progenitor cells could represent an alternative source of insulin-producing tissue for diabetes treatment. In order to identify these cells, we have focused on the human pancreatic cells expressing cell surface molecule CD133, a marker of adult stem cells. We found that population of human CD133-positive pancreatic cells contains endocrine progenitors expressing neurogenin-3 and cells expressing human telomerase, ABCG2, Oct-3/4, Nanog, and Rex-1, markers of pluripotent stem cells. These cells were able to differentiate into insulin-producing cells in vitro and secreted C-peptide in a glucose-dependent manner. Based on our results, we suppose that the CD133 molecule represents another cell surface marker suitable for identification and isolation of pancreatic endocrine progenitors.