Simultaneous Administration of Berberine and Transplantation of Endometrial Stem Cell-Derived Insulin Precursor Cells on a Nanofibrous Scaffold to Treat Diabetes Mellitus in Mice.

Today, significant success has been achieved in treating diabetes with cell therapy derived from various sources of stem and progenitors. The replacement of beta cells is one of the new diabetes treatment methods. To this end, the production of pancreatic beta precursors in cell culture has created an important research field for diabetes treatment. Endometrial stem cells were isolated using an enzymatic method, and after their identity was confirmed using a flow cytometry and differentiation potential assay, the isolated cells were cultured on an electrospun PCL/CS scaffold. Endometrial cells were differentiated into insulin-producing cells (IPCs), and gene expression was analyzed using the qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence to confirm the creation of IPCs. Then, IPCs on the scaffold along with berberine were applied to 5 groups of diabetic mice, and after 6 weeks, insulin, blood glucose, and weight of the animals were measured. The findings revealed that pancreatic markers were significantly expressed in IPCs compared to control cells. In addition, when compared to the control group and scaffolds, the receiving group of IPCs on scaffolds had a significant improvement (p ≤ 0.0015), and this improvement increased with the addition of berberine (decrease in blood sugar (133 mg/dL), and an increase in weight (5/39 g) and insulin (2.29 MIU/L). Thus, tissue engineering is a promising new strategy for treating diabetes and can be used in the future for cell therapy and suitable drugs for diabetic patients.