Directed differentiation of human iPSC into insulin-producing cells is improved by induced expression of PDX1 and NKX6.1 factors in IPC progenitors

Here, the authors show that the highest efficiencies of reprogramming of fibroblasts were obtained on Laminin-511 and Laminin-521, compared to other coatings. iPSC cell lines were created with stably integrated PDX1 and NKX6.1 transgenes under the transcriptional control of the doxycycline-inducible promoter. These cells were differentiated into insulin-producing cells. Generated cells displayed molecular markers characteristic for respective steps of the differentiation. The obtained IPC secreted insulin and produced C-peptide with a significantly higher hormone release level in the case of the combined expression of PDX1 and NKX6.1 induced at the last stage of the differentiation. The efficiency of differentiation of iPSC to IPC can be increased by concurrent expression of PDX1 and NKX6.1 during progenitor cell maturation.