Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Science - Department of Biochemistry

Regenerative medicine represents one of the main concerns of medicine. The aim of this study is to investigate an alternative technique for islet transplantation to treat type Ї diabetes mellitus (T1DM) by efficiently inducing easily obtained and processed Wharton{u2019}s jelly {u2013} derived mesenchymal stem cells of human umbilical cord (huMSCs) to differentiate into islet-like cells (ILCs). HuMSCs were isolated, cultured and induced chemically by fibronectin to differentiate in vitro into ILCs). The response of huMSCs was observed under an inverted microscope and evaluated by flow cytometry, H&E staining and immunocytochemistry. Twenty five male albino rats were divided into five groups, one of which was used as a control. Four groups were injected with 30 mg/kg of streptozotocin (STZ) on 3 consecutive days to induce T1DM. 5{u00D7}10⁶ of the differentiated huMSCs into functional insulin-producing cells were transplanted into two STZ-induced diabetic groups via two various ways , one via the tail vein and the other was intraperitoneally .While, 5{u00D7}10⁶ of the undifferentiated huMSCs were transplanted into the third group via the tail vein. Random blood glucose level (RBGL) and body weight (B.wt) were monitored weekly. After eight weeks, all rats were sacrificed and the pancreatic tissue was harvested in order to examine the change of pancreatic islets{u2019} structure, area and diameter by histomorphologic and histomorphometric analysis.

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