Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Exosomes are nanoparticles containing bioactive molecules reflecting individual physiological status, regulating metabolism, and repairing damaged tissues. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles with nano-sized features (30-150 nm) involved in cell-to-cell communication and maintaining homeostasis. The function of exosomes is different according to their cargo and they can contain lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. Exosomes originating from mammalian cells as well as plant cell-derived play an important role in interspecies interaction. Exosomes, which are a very important discovery in studies aimed at elucidating the pathophysiology of diabetes, are still being investigated for their roles in treatment methods and cell interactions. In our study, we aimed to examine the effects of Diospyros Kaki-derived exosomes on beta cell homeostasis.

Methods: Three different doses of Diospyros Kaki-derived exosome were given to pancreatic beta cells isolated from spraque dowley rats in vitro. In order to evaluate the toxic effect of given date exosomes on beta cells, Mts analyzes were first measured at 24, 48 and 72 h. As it can be seen from MTS analysis, 50 mg/dl was found as optimum dose for treatment. After choosing the effective dose, total RNA isolation, cDNA and PCR analyzes were performed. As a result of PCR experiments, the amount of increase and decrease in gene expressions were analyzed.

Results: Effects of administration of Diospyros Kaki-derived exosomes on beta cells were analyzed via MTS and PCR techniques. After optimum dose were defined by MTS analysis, diabet specific genes such as preproinsülin, Transforming growth factor beta and Pdx-1 expressions were analyzedvia PCR. In addition, expression of preproinsülin, Transforming growth factor beta and Pdx-1 genes which are spesific for for the growth, secretion function, and survival of beta-cells, increased 3, 4 and 2 fold changes respectively. Furthermore, Diaspyros Kaki derived exosomes significantly increased beta-cell proliferation upon 50mg/ml concentration and no toxic effects were observed.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates the contribution of Diospyros Kaki-derived exosomes to beta cell proliferation in a pancreatic beta cells culture modelling diabetes mellitus. Our findings suggests that the use of Diospyros Kaki-derived exosomes should potentially be considered and studied in the future in the treatment of beta-cell associated diabetes mellitus.