Figure 4.
α-to β-cell transdifferentiation is induced in TIF-IAΔ/Δ model. (A) Immunostaining of insulin (green) and glucagon (red) reveals the presence of cells co-expressing insulin and glucagon inside the islets of TIF-IAΔ/Δ mice. (B) The relative abundance of these bihormonal cells is decreased over time. (C) Bihormonal cells express a combination of α- and β-cell markers. Arrows point to the bihormonal cells. (D and E) Expression of Pdx1 and Nkx6.1 is induced in glucagon expressing α-cells. m.p.inj.: months post injection. Scale bar: 25 μm, 5 μm for 4A lower images. Values are presented by mean ± SEM. P-value <0.05: *, P-value <0.01: **. N >3 animals for each experimental condition.