Dynamic analysis of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells migrating to Pancreatic Islets using coculture Microfluidic Chips - An accelerated migrating rate and better survival of Pancreatic Islets were revealed

Aug 27, 2026

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A coculture microfluidic chip was fabricated to study, in vitro, the dynamic migration of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells toward pancreatic islets and to monitor islet behavior during coculture. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and pancreatic islets were placed into two microchambers connected by a microfluidic tunnel, enabling migration assay along the tunnel and assessment of islet function via insulin secretion under high-glucose challenge. Results showed bioactive factors from freshly isolated islets enhanced migration rate and improved islet survival and function, indicating a tool to mimic the biological process.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Introduction

Rationale for studying stem cell migration

Limitations of existing migration assays

Chip-based coculture approach

Materials and Methods

Isolation and culture of BM-MSCs

Pancreatic islet isolation

BM-MSCs migrate to pancreatic islets on chip

O R I G I N A L A R T I C L E Neuroendocrinology Letters Volume 30 No. 2 2009 Dynamic analysis of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells migrating to Pancreatic Islets using coculture Microfluidic Chips: An accelerated migrating rate and better survival of Pancreatic Islets were revealed Peng Lin 1, Li Chen1,*, Dong Li 2, Nailong Yang 3, Yu Sun 1, Yuxin Xu 1 1. Department of Endocrinology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Ji’nan 250012, Shandong; 2. Cryomedicine Laboratory, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Ji’nan 250012, Shandong; 3. Department of Endocrinology, Qingdao University Medical School affiliated Hospital, Qing’dao 266000; PR China. Correspondence to: Li Chen, phone: 86-531-88382931; fax: 86-531-86022276 e-mail: [chenjiaoshou2008@live.cn](chenjiaoshou2008@live.cn) Submitted: 2008-09-16 Accepted: 2009-02-13 Published online: 2009-07-20 Key words: bone marrow; mesenchymal stem cell; microfluidic chip; migration; pancreatic islets; survival Neuroendocrinol Lett 2009; 30(2):204–208 PMID: 19675523 NEL300209A06 © 2009 Neuroendocrinology Letters • [www.nel.edu](www.nel.edu) Abstract OBJECTIVES: A coculture microfluidic chip had been fabricated to investigate the dynamic process of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells migrating to the pancreatic islets in vitro. METHODS: We fabricated a coculture microfluidic chip using standard procedures. On the chip, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and pancreatic islets were introduced respectively into two microchambers which could be connected by a traffic tunnel. Migration assay was performed along the tunnel, and the function of pancreatic islets was timely evaluated by analysis of insulin secretion in response to high-glucose-challenge. RESULTS: The results showed that some bioactive factors excreted by freshly isolated pancreatic islets could enhance the migrating rate of BM-MSCs. Besides, pancreatic islets also showed a better survival and function by coculturing with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells had the ability to migrate to pancreatic islets and provide an apparent overall preservation for islet function. This microfluidic device was a potentially useful tool to mimic actual biological processes of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells migrating to the pancreatic islets in vitro. Abbreviations: BM-MSCs: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells INtroDuCtIoN Regeneration of new pancreatic β cells from stem cells or depression of β cell apoptosis by stem cells is increasingly viewed as a promising therapeutic strategy in the field of diabetic treatment. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs), which can be isolated from bone tissue and expanded in vitro for clinical use, have provided usan ideal cell source for this stem cell-based strategy (Pittenger et al. 1999) . Recently, Hess (Hess To cite this article: Neuroendocrinol Lett 2009; 30(2):204–208 et al. 2003) has showed that transplantation of adult bone marrow derived cells expressing c-kit reduces high glucose level streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, resulting in a proliferation of recipient pancreatic cells. Increasingly, investigation concerning the process of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells migrating to pancreatic islets is viewed as an active area. Cell migration assay is crucial for understanding the underlying mechanism of many physiological and pathological processes including embryonic development, cancer metastasis and immune response. Typical cell migration assay is mostly performed by transwell platform or wound healing assay. However, transwell platform device requires a large amount of cells, thus restricts its application in the field of stem cell research (Sia etal. 2003) . Moreover, it does not allow visualization of the actual migration paths, providing only an endpoint measurement, thus the whole migrating process is unable to be real-timely observed. As far as wound healing

FAQs

What coculture model was used to study BM-MSC migration toward pancreatic islets?

A coculture microfluidic chip with two microchambers connected by a microfluidic traffic tunnel was used to place BM-MSCs and pancreatic islets for dynamic migration observation.

How was pancreatic islet function evaluated during the experiment?

Islet function was assessed by analyzing insulin secretion in response to a high-glucose challenge.

What main findings were reported about migration and islet outcomes?

Bioactive factors from freshly isolated pancreatic islets increased the BM-MSC migrating rate, while coculture also improved pancreatic islet survival and function.

Aug 27, 2026

Upload by James