Synthesis and release of human (pro)insulin in human BM progenitor cells.

Abstract

Pancreatic insulin-producing g-cells are permanently destroyed in Type I diabetic patients, leading to hypoglycemica. Various somatic cells have been studied for their ability to deliver insulin as an alternative source of pancreatic g-cells. We investigated the potential of human BM progenitor cells for this purpose. Two BM-derived hematopoietic cell lines, Tf-1 (CD34+) and K562 (CD34m) cell and primary human BM stromal cells were transduced with the human preproinsulin cDNA, and the ability of these cells to synthesize, store and release insulin was analyzed. All cells produce and released (pro)insulin at 116-295 wU/10(6) cells/day respectively. No storage of insulin was detected in either cell line or in stromal cells. We conclude that human BM-derived progenitor cells can be induced to produce and release basal levels of (pro)insulin.