Generation of vascularized pancreatic progenitors through co-differentiation of endoderm and mesoderm from human pluripotent stem cells

Abstract Background The simultaneous differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into both endodermal and mesodermal lineages is crucial for developing complex, vascularized tissues, yet poses significant challenges. This study explores a method for co-differentiation of mesoderm and end...

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Main Authors: Xiaopu Sang, Junming Xu, Yihang Wang, Jingyi Li, Jiasen Xu, Xiaoni Chen, Xianjie Shi, Fenfang Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:Stem Cell Research & Therapy
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-024-04120-5
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author Xiaopu Sang
Junming Xu
Yihang Wang
Jingyi Li
Jiasen Xu
Xiaoni Chen
Xianjie Shi
Fenfang Wu
author_facet Xiaopu Sang
Junming Xu
Yihang Wang
Jingyi Li
Jiasen Xu
Xiaoni Chen
Xianjie Shi
Fenfang Wu
author_sort Xiaopu Sang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The simultaneous differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into both endodermal and mesodermal lineages is crucial for developing complex, vascularized tissues, yet poses significant challenges. This study explores a method for co-differentiation of mesoderm and endoderm, and their subsequent differentiation into pancreatic progenitors (PP) with endothelial cells (EC). Methods Two hPSC lines were utilized. By manipulating WNT signaling, we optimized co-differentiation protocols of mesoderm and endoderm through adjusting the concentrations of CHIR99021 and mTeSR1. Subsequently, mesoderm and endoderm were differentiated into vascularized pancreatic progenitors (vPP) by adding VEGFA. The differentiation characteristics and potential of vPPs were analyzed via transcriptome sequencing and functional assays. Results A low-dose CHIR99021 in combination with mTeSR1 yielded approximately 30% mesodermal and 70% endodermal cells. Introduction of VEGFA significantly enhanced EC differentiation without compromising PP formation, increasing the EC proportion to 13.9%. Transcriptomic analyses confirmed the effectiveness of our protocol, showing up-regulation of mesodermal and endothelial markers, alongside enhanced metabolic pathways. Functional assays demonstrated that vPPs could efficiently differentiate into insulin-producing β-cells, as evidenced by increased expression of β-cell markers and insulin secretion. Conclusion Our findings provide a robust method for generating vPPs, which holds significant promise for regenerative medicine applications, particularly in diabetes treatment.
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spelling doaj-art-11ec508fbc054e98b6e408da45da68df2025-08-20T02:57:39ZengBMCStem Cell Research & Therapy1757-65122024-12-0115111410.1186/s13287-024-04120-5Generation of vascularized pancreatic progenitors through co-differentiation of endoderm and mesoderm from human pluripotent stem cellsXiaopu Sang0Junming Xu1Yihang Wang2Jingyi Li3Jiasen Xu4Xiaoni Chen5Xianjie Shi6Fenfang Wu7Department of Central Laboratory, Shenzhen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityDepartment of Central Laboratory, Shenzhen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese MedicineBiotherapy Center, Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital (The Second Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology)Department of Central Laboratory, Shenzhen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of Central Laboratory, Shenzhen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityDepartment of Central Laboratory, Shenzhen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese MedicineAbstract Background The simultaneous differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into both endodermal and mesodermal lineages is crucial for developing complex, vascularized tissues, yet poses significant challenges. This study explores a method for co-differentiation of mesoderm and endoderm, and their subsequent differentiation into pancreatic progenitors (PP) with endothelial cells (EC). Methods Two hPSC lines were utilized. By manipulating WNT signaling, we optimized co-differentiation protocols of mesoderm and endoderm through adjusting the concentrations of CHIR99021 and mTeSR1. Subsequently, mesoderm and endoderm were differentiated into vascularized pancreatic progenitors (vPP) by adding VEGFA. The differentiation characteristics and potential of vPPs were analyzed via transcriptome sequencing and functional assays. Results A low-dose CHIR99021 in combination with mTeSR1 yielded approximately 30% mesodermal and 70% endodermal cells. Introduction of VEGFA significantly enhanced EC differentiation without compromising PP formation, increasing the EC proportion to 13.9%. Transcriptomic analyses confirmed the effectiveness of our protocol, showing up-regulation of mesodermal and endothelial markers, alongside enhanced metabolic pathways. Functional assays demonstrated that vPPs could efficiently differentiate into insulin-producing β-cells, as evidenced by increased expression of β-cell markers and insulin secretion. Conclusion Our findings provide a robust method for generating vPPs, which holds significant promise for regenerative medicine applications, particularly in diabetes treatment.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-024-04120-5Human pluripotent stem cellsEndoderm differentiationMesoderm differentiationMulti-lineage co-differentiationVascularized pancreatic progenitors
spellingShingle Xiaopu Sang
Junming Xu
Yihang Wang
Jingyi Li
Jiasen Xu
Xiaoni Chen
Xianjie Shi
Fenfang Wu
Generation of vascularized pancreatic progenitors through co-differentiation of endoderm and mesoderm from human pluripotent stem cells
Stem Cell Research & Therapy
Human pluripotent stem cells
Endoderm differentiation
Mesoderm differentiation
Multi-lineage co-differentiation
Vascularized pancreatic progenitors
title Generation of vascularized pancreatic progenitors through co-differentiation of endoderm and mesoderm from human pluripotent stem cells
title_full Generation of vascularized pancreatic progenitors through co-differentiation of endoderm and mesoderm from human pluripotent stem cells
title_fullStr Generation of vascularized pancreatic progenitors through co-differentiation of endoderm and mesoderm from human pluripotent stem cells
title_full_unstemmed Generation of vascularized pancreatic progenitors through co-differentiation of endoderm and mesoderm from human pluripotent stem cells
title_short Generation of vascularized pancreatic progenitors through co-differentiation of endoderm and mesoderm from human pluripotent stem cells
title_sort generation of vascularized pancreatic progenitors through co differentiation of endoderm and mesoderm from human pluripotent stem cells
topic Human pluripotent stem cells
Endoderm differentiation
Mesoderm differentiation
Multi-lineage co-differentiation
Vascularized pancreatic progenitors
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-024-04120-5
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