Bipotential mouse embryonic liver (BMEL) cells spontaneously express Pdx1 and Ngn3 but do not undergo further pancreatic differentiation upon Hes1 down-regulation
2008

BMEL Cells and Their Potential in Diabetes Research

Sample size: 5 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Juliette Cuvelier, Lionel Martignat, Jean-Marie Bach, Steffi Bösch, Vanessa Louzier

Primary Institution: National Veterinary School, Nantes, France

Hypothesis

Can bipotential mouse embryonic liver (BMEL) cells express pancreatic markers and differentiate into pancreatic cells?

Conclusion

BMEL cells exhibit characteristics of pancreatic endocrine progenitor cells, suggesting their potential for diabetes research.

Supporting Evidence

  • BMEL cells express Pdx1 and Ngn3, markers associated with pancreatic progenitor cells.
  • Hes1 expression decreases over time in aggregate culture, indicating a potential pathway for differentiation.
  • Ngn3 becomes detectable at the transcript level in aggregate cultures, suggesting a shift towards pancreatic lineage.

Takeaway

Scientists are studying special liver cells that might help create new insulin-producing cells for diabetes treatment.

Methodology

BMEL cells were cultured in both adherent and aggregate conditions, and gene expression was analyzed using RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry.

Potential Biases

Potential bias in the interpretation of gene expression results due to the sensitivity of the techniques used.

Limitations

The study does not explore the long-term differentiation potential of BMEL cells or their behavior in vivo.

Participant Demographics

Mouse embryonic liver cells from different inbred strains.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1756-0500-1-136

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