Stem cell marker expression in human pancreas

There has been much speculation over the source of new β-cells in adult human pancreas, including whether progenitor cells could be partly responsible. The pluripotent circuitry in embryonic stem (ES) cells is maintained by the stem cell markers OCT4, SOX2 and NANOG. White and colleagues looked at the expression of these pluripotency-associated ES cell markers in adult human pancreas, finding novel evidence for OCT4A expression, the only isoform of OCT4 that maintains pluripotency. They also identified ‘islet survivor cells’ and H9 ES cells that were capable of activating the OCT4 promoter. Further, their work demonstrates, for the first time, evidence for nuclear co-localisation of OCT4, SOX2 and NANOG. Further studies need to focus on whether these cells possess stem cell characteristics and where they originate. White et al. (2011) Journal of Endocrinology 211 169-176.

Read the full article at: DOI:10.1530/JOE-11-0123.