SUSD2 Protein Marker for Pancreatic Endocrine Cell Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for differentiating human pluripotent stem cells into functional mature pancreatic beta-cells in vitro are inefficient, and there is a lack of effective molecular markers for isolating pancreatic endocrine progenitor and nascent endocrine cells, limiting the development of cell replacement therapies for diabetes.

Innovation Solution

The use of the SUSD2 protein as a marker for identifying and sorting pancreatic endocrine progenitor and nascent endocrine cells through immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and magnetic bead cell sorting, leveraging its enriched expression in these cell types to facilitate their isolation and purification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If pancreatic progenitor cells are used for cell replacement therapy, then sufficient donor islet cells can be obtained, but their tumorigenicity limits clinical application

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedonor islet cell supplyVSAvoidtumorigenicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by using SUSD2 as a marker to identify and isolate pancreatic endocrine progenitor cells at a specific developmental stage before they acquire full functional capacity. This allows selection of cells that have passed certain developmental checkpoints, potentially reducing tumorigenicity while maintaining differentiation potential for future cell replacement therapy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If pancreatic progenitor cells are differentiated into functional mature beta-cells in vitro, then efficient cell replacement therapy can be achieved, but the differentiation efficiency is currently low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedifferentiation efficiencyVSAvoidfunctional maturity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback by using SUSD2 expression as a measurable indicator to monitor and control the differentiation process. By detecting SUSD2 expression levels, researchers can assess the presence of pancreatic endocrine progenitor cells and adjust differentiation conditions accordingly, creating a feedback loop that improves both efficiency and reliability of generating functional beta-cells

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of information

If transcription factors like NGN3 are used as markers, then pancreatic endocrine progenitor cell fate can be indicated, but these proteins cannot be used to isolate and purify specific cell populations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell fate identificationVSAvoidcell isolation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces SUSD2 as an intermediary marker that bridges the gap between transcription factors and isolatable surface proteins. SUSD2 expression correlates with pancreatic endocrine progenitor cell fate like NGN3, but unlike NGN3, SUSD2 can be targeted by antibodies for flow cytometry-based isolation, thus serving as a functional intermediary that enables both identification and purification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The SUSD2 protein effectively identifies and isolates pancreatic endocrine progenitor and nascent endocrine cells, enhancing the efficiency of differentiating these cells in vitro and promoting the development of cell replacement therapies for diabetes.

Implementation Method 1

anti-SUSD2 monoclonal antibody

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAntibody-antigen binding:

Implementation Method 2

immunofluorescence antibody assay

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImmunofluorescence: Fluorescence

Implementation Method 3

flow cytometry

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow cytometry:

Implementation Method 4

magnetic beads cell sorting

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic bead cell sorting: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP3178923B1Use of SUSD2 protein as marker
Publication Date: 2021.12.01 BEIJING RUIPU CHENCHUANG TECH
  • EP3178923B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)D
  • EP3178923B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP3178923B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Disclosed is a use of a SUSD2 protein as a marker, in particular a use of the SUSD2 protein as the marker in identification, selection or separation of pancreatic internal secretion precursor cells and/or newborn pancreatic internal secretion cells; and a use of an mRNA, for encoding the SUSD2 protein, of a precursor protein as the marker in identification of the pancreatic internal secretion precursor cells and/or the newborn pancreatic internal secretion cells. Through analysis of gene expression of pancreatic endoderm cells sourced by induced directional differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells, the enrichment expression of a SUSD2 gene in the pancreatic internal secretion precursor cells and the newborn pancreatic internal secretion cells is found. In addition, a protein encoded by the SUSD2 gene is a receptor protein on cell membranes. Using the protein as the marker, the identification, the selection or the separation of the pancreatic internal secretion precursor cells and the newborn pancreatic internal secretion cells can be carried out, which has an important significance on research about pancreas related cells in each development stage.