Premium
Hedgehog Signaling during Expansion of Human Pancreatic Islet‐Derived Precursors
Author(s) -
Gallo Rita,
Grieco Fabio Arturo,
Marselli Lorella,
Ferretti Elisabetta,
Gulino Alberto,
Marchetti Piero,
Dotta Francesco
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1447.024
Subject(s) - cyclopamine , hedgehog signaling pathway , hedgehog , gli1 , microbiology and biotechnology , mesenchymal stem cell , islet , chemistry , signal transduction , pancreas , biology , cancer research , endocrinology , insulin
A detailed understanding of the molecular process involved in the proliferation of pancreatic precursor cells would provide key elements for developing new therapeutic strategies to cure type 1 diabetes. In the present study we investigated the potential involvement of hedgehog signaling in proliferating human pancreatic islet‐derived mesenchymal (hPIDM) cells, a population of cells that can be successfully expanded and induced to differentiate into an insulin‐secreting phenotype. Here we report that in these precursor cells a hedgehog signaling pathway is activated, as shown by Gli1 expression, and that a dose‐dependent inhibition of such a pathway by cyclopamine results in a significant reduction of cell proliferation.