Human umbilical cord blood derived mesenchymal stem cells were differentiated into pancreatic endocrine cell by Pdx-1 electrotransfer

Diabetes mellitus type 1 is an autoimmune disease with high incidence in adolescents and young adults. A seductive approach overcomes normally obstacles treatment is cell-replacement therapy to endogenous insulin production. The pancreatic duodenal homeobox 1 (Pdx1) is essential transcription factor pancreatic development, beta cell differentiation and other metabolic processes. This study aimed to orient umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cell (UCB-MSCs) to pancreatic endocrine cells by Pdx1 electrotransfer. The results showed that the low voltage of electrotransfer significantly increased in the efficiency of electrotransfer and survival cells compared with other high voltages. Pdx-1 transfected UCB-MSCs over-expressed pancreatic related genes as Ngn3, Nkx6.1. These results suggested that Pdx1 transfected UCB-MSCs were successfully oriented pancreatic endocrine cells. Different to lentiviral vectors, electrotransfer is a safer method to transfer Pdx-1 to UCB-MSCs and a useful tool in translational research.