Swertisin ameliorates diabetes by triggering pancreatic progenitors for islet neogenesis in Streptozotocin treated BALB/c mice

Abstract In the present study, Swertisin’s role in triggering resident pancreatic progenitors for islet neogenesis in Streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic mice was explored. STZ diabetic mice when treated with Swertisin demonstrated reversion to normoglycemia and significant elevation of fasting serum insulin levels. On screening the pancreatic tissue post Swertisin treatment in the STZ diabetic mice, we observed significant up-regulation of key transcription factors viz. Pdx1, Neurog3, MafA and Nkx6.1 required for islet neogenesis and beta cell homeostasis. We further observed increase in expression of Nestin and Neurog3 positive population; Nestin and Glut2 positive population and increase in c-peptide and Glucagon positive population within the Islets of Langerhans indicating increased pancreatic progenitor activity and their differentiation into Insulin producing beta cells in Swertisin treated STZ diabetic mice. Thus, this short study highlights pancreatic innate capability to regenerate and recover using its own resident progenitors upon appropriate stimulus, which could culminate into an effective diabetic therapy.