Figure 8.

Transfection of miR-127 and miR-709 induces pancreatic β-cell gene expression in acinar cells. (A) Transfection optimization in 266-6 cells (acinar cell line) in stage 3 medium. The first panel represents a bright-field image of the 266-6 cells 48 h after transfection, and the second panel is the corresponding green channel (fluorescence microscope) image. Scale bar = 100 µm. (B) The acinar cell line (266-6) was transfected with miR-127 + miR-709 (combination 3), which increased the transcript levels of Pdx1, Ngn3, and Insulin-2. The combination decreased the acinar marker elastase expression. * p < 0.05 and ** p < 0.01. Statistical significance was determined by paired, two-tailed t-testing. The data shown represent the mean ± SEM of three independent experiments. Ins1 = Insulin-1, Ins2 = Insulin 2, and ns = non-significant. Stage 3 medium comprised of basal medium + stage 3 small molecules, growth factors and supplements.