Derivation of hepato-pancreatic intermediate progenitor cells from a clonal mesenchymal stem cell line of rat bone marrow origin

We have recently established a clonal mesenchymal stem cell line (rBM25/ S3) from adult rat bone marrow. The cells have practically unlimited proliferation capacity (over 300 PDL), maintaining multipotency for differentiation. In the present study, we examined the potential for rBM25/S3 cells to differentiate into insulin-secreting cells. When cultured in the presence of HGF and FGF-4 on Matrigel, rBM25/S3 cells expressed genes specific to pancreatic ß-cells as well as those specific to hepatocytes. They still maintained proliferation capacity with a doubling time of ∼30 h. These hepato-pancreatic intermediate progenitor cells, but not the original undifferentiated rBM25/S3 cells, were induced by the overexpression of PDX-1 to produce significant amounts of insulin in a manner responding to glucose concentration in medium. The present culture system indicates a direction for further studies aimed at the realization of cell transplantation therapy for type I diabetes mellitus.