Generation of β cells from hPSCs

This protocol is intended as a guide only, for full experimental details please read the reference provided.

In Brief

Pagliuca et al. describe the generation of insulin-producing pancreatic β cells from human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) in vitro in 4 - 5 weeks using a cocktail of small molecules and proteins.

Briefly, using a suspension-based culture system hESCs and hPSCs were seeded at 6 x 105 cells/ml. After 48 h and 72 h, respectively, differentiation was started by changing the media to Day media. Pancreatic β cells were generated as follows: Days 0-3: Definitive endoderm (DE) induction; Days 4-6; Generation of primitive gut tube (PGT); Days 7-13: Pancreatic specification; Days 14-27+ β cell maturation. The resulting β cells released insulin in response to glucose stimulation in vitro and following transplantation into mice.

Generation of Beta Cells from hPSCs

Cocktails

DE InductionPGT GenerationPancreatic SpecificationEndoderm Specificationβ-cell Differentiation
Activin A100 ng/mlKGF50 ng/mlKGF50 ng/mlSANT-1 (Cat.No. 1974)0.25 μM (Days 14-17 only)RepSox (Cat.No. 3742)10 μM
CHIR 99021 (Cat.No. 4423)3 μMActivin A100 ng/mlRetinoic Acid (Cat.No. 0695)2 μMRetinoic Acid (Cat.No. 0695)100 nM (25 nM from Day 18)T3 (Cat.No. 6666)3 μM
    SANT-1 (Cat.No. 1974)0.25 μMCompound E (Cat.No. 6476)1 μM  
    LDN 193189 (Cat.No. 6053)200 nM (Day 7-8 only)RepSox (Cat.No. 3742)10 μM  
    Phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (Cat.No. 4153)10 μM (Day 7-8 only)T3 (Cat.No. 6666)1 μM  
      Betacellulin20 ng/ml  


 

Timeline for Generation of Beta Cells from hPSCs

Reference

Pagliuca et al. (2014) Generation of functional human pancreatic β cells in vitro. Cell 159 428. PMID: 25303535