PANC-1 Migration and Cluster Formation is Regulated by Short Range Mechanical Forces

Islet cell transplantation has already shown improved control of glucose levels and the potential to achieve insulin independence in type 1 diabetes mellitus, however there is a shortage of organ donors needed to match patient needs [1–2]. In the search for alternative sources of islets, many cell types have shown signs of β-cell differentiation by secreting c-peptide, insulin, and glucagon [3–5]. When maintained in serum-free medium, human epithelial-like pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PANC-1) cells and human-islet derived precursor cells (hIPCs) can go through a morphological transition and cluster [6]. These islet-like cell aggregates subsequently express glucagon, somatostatin, and insulin, indicating that clustering may play an important role in differentiation towards β-cells [7].