NestinnegCD24low/- population from fetal Nestin-EGFP transgenic mice enriches the pancreatic endocrine progenitor cells

Objectives: To identify whether Nestin-positve cells or Nestin-negative cells in pancreas enrich potential pancreatic stem/progenitor cells. Methods: We generated transgenic mice carrying enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the control of the nestin second-intronic enhancer and subsequently divided their embryonic pancreatic cells into different subpopulations according to the expression of EGFP and CD24 and characterized these subpopulations by in vitro culture. Results: The EGFP expression correlated well with that of endogenous Nestin. Only the Nestin(neg)CD24(low/-) subpopulation was able to proliferate and generate immature islet-like cell clusters in long-term culture. Immature islet-like cell clusters could be induced to differentiate into insulin-, glucagon-, and somatostatin-positive cells. Conclusions: Pancreatic endocrine stem/progenitor cells are enriched in the Nestin(neg) CD24(low/-) population of embryonic pancreas.