The protein p8 mediates expansion of human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells by both induction of cell proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis

The proliferation associated protein p8 is highly expressed within pancreatic acinar cells during experimentally induced pancreatitis and improves pancreatic resistance by enhanced expression of the anti-inflammatory protein PAP I. In previous studies we demonstrated glucose-dependent expression of p8 also in pancreatic beta-cells, and enhanced expansion and growth of beta-cells by p8-overexpression. Bone marrow derived adult mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) are investigated as an alternative source for beta-cell replacement therapy, but their proliferation potential in vitro is limited. Here we investigated the hu…