Diabetes is characterised by hyperglycaemia resulted as the relative or absolute insulin deficiency which is closely related to islet beta cell failure. Apoptosis is the core mechanism of beta cell failure according to the studies on human islet. However, apoptosis can’t fully explain the loss of beta cell mass in the process of type 2 diabetes or the protective effect of early intervention. Recently, some other possible mechanisms of beta cell dysfunction have been proposed and dedifferentiation of beta cell draws extensive attention. Evidences of beta cell dedifferentiation in type 2 diabetes patients and animal models outlined and the transcription factors which determine beta cells of identity during this procedure are discussed in this review.
Objective The purity and activity of islets will greatly affect the outcome of xenotransplantation therapy of type 1 diabetes mell itus. To set up an improved method of the isolation and purification of rat islets, which can obtain highpurity,high-yield, and high-viabil ity islets. Methods Ten healthy and adult male SD rats, weighing 250-300 g were used asorgan donors. Collagenase V was perfused into pancreas via pancreatic duct. Pancreas was digested with collagenase in water bath at 38℃ about 15 minutes, islet purification was performed using two techniques: with Ficoll 400 density gradient (group A), and Ficoll-Paque? PLUS (group B). Dithizone (DTZ) was util ized for identifying islets, counting islets equivalent quantity (IEQ) and islets’ purity. Trypan blue staining was used to detect the viabil ity of islets. Islets of group B was encapsulated with alginate/poly-L-lysine/alginate (APA). Islets function of microencapsulated and nonmicroencapsulated was evaluated by the insul in release test. Results DTZ staining showed that islets shape were round, ell ipse and irregular with a clear edge and a diameter range of 50-300 μm. The IEQ values were 338.04 ± 76.61 and 834.80 ± 54.00 in groups A and B, respectively, showing significant difference (P lt; 0.05). The purities were 88.31% ± 2.67% and 95.63% ± 1.96% in groups A and B, respectively, showing no significant difference (P gt; 0.05). The activities of islets were 67.40% ± 5.15% and 86.05% ± 2.52% in groups A and B, showing significant difference (P lt; 0.05). Islet APA microcapsules had round shape, unified size, and its diameter was between 1.5 and 2.0 mm. Each microcapsule was encapsulated of 1 to 3 islets. The result of insul in release assay was that the concentrations of insul in secretion with islets of microencapsulated and nonmicroencapsulated were (5.53 ± 1.64) ng/ mL and (4.76 ± 0.26) ng/mL in low glucose, and its concentrations of insul in secretion in high glucose were (11.95 ± 2.07) ng/ mL and (14.34 ± 3.18) ng/mL. Stimulated insul in secretion in high glucose was 2 times more than that in low glucose (P lt; 0.05), but there was no significant difference (P gt; 0.05) in the stimulation index between group A (2.16 ± 0.30) and group B (3.01 ± 0.59). Conclusion The method of islets isolation and purification using Ficoll-Paque? PLUS own the virtues of more convenient, high islet yield, and high islet purity. Both microencapsulated and nonmicroencapsulated islets show high-viabil ity while culture in vitro.
Objective To summarize and analyze the different modality on molecular imaging of tracking and monitoring for islet transplantation．Methods The current domestic and foreign reports on molecular imaging of islet transplantation were reviewed．Results Magnetic resonance imaging has high sensitivity，high spatial resolution，no ionizing radiation，is clinically applicable，and could be used of real-time MR-guided injections，but can’t discriminate between liver and dead cells，difficult to do in patients with liver iron overload．Nuclear molecular imaging only displays liver cells generate signal，is clinically applicable，but disadvantage is genetic manipulation，ionizing radiation，no anatomical information，low spatial resolution．The advantage of in vivo optical imaging is only liver cells generate signal，widely available，no ionizing radiation，and the disadvantage is genetic manipulation，not clinically applicable，low spatial resolution．Conclusions Islet imaging using magnetic resonance，nuclear molecular imaging，in vivo optical imaging，or multimodal imaging of microencapsulated islets may provide us with a direct means to interrogate islet cell distribution，survival，and function．Multimodal imaging of microencapsulated islets may be best way for tracking and monitoring in the future．
Objective To study the advances in microcirculation after islets of Langerhans transplantation (ILT). Methods The literature in the recent years on the study of the relationship between ILT and microcirculation was reviewed. Results The process of angiogenesis and revascularization of the islet grafts was in progress within 1 week after transplantation, and was completed within 10-14 days after transplantation, exhibiting a microangioarchitecture similar to pancreatic islets in situ. The sequence of vascular intraislet cellular perfusion was from β cells outward to α-and δ-cell cortex, with the majority of α cells perfused before the majority of δ cells. Freely transplanted islet grafts were revascularized from the hostderived microvascular bed. The interstitial pressure in the islet transplants was markedly lower than the capillary pressure. There were clearly differences in microcirculation between syngeneic and xenogeneic islet grafts. The phenomena of microcirculation failure were observed in xenografts. The influential factors of microcirculation after ILT were ①culture temperature of isolated islets, ②cultured time and cryopreserved method of islets, ③blood glucose, ④immunosuppressive agents, ⑤angiogenesis factors. Conclusion Microvascularization of freely islet grafts is one of the essential requirements for successful engraftment, guaranteeing sufficient nutritional blood supply to the tissue and establishing blood drainage for adequate liberation of the endocrine hormones. Through the studies of the microcirculation after ILT, it is helpful to recognize the mechanism of the survival of islet grafts.
Objective
To summarize the research progress on the source and selection of donor cells in the field of islet replacement therapy for diabetes mellitus.
Methods
Domestic and abroad literature concerning islet replacement therapy for diabetes mellitus, as well as donor source and donor selection was reviewed and analyzed thoroughly.
Results
The shortage of donor supply is still a major obstacle for the widely clinical application of pancreatic islet transplantation (PIT). Currently, in addition to the progress on the allogeneic/autologous donor islet supply, some remarkable achievements have been also attained in the application of xenogeneic islet (from pig donor), as well as islet like cells derived from stem cells and islet cell line, potentially enlarging the source of implantable cells.
Conclusion
Adequate and suitable donor cell supply is an essential prerequisite for widely clinical application of PIT therapy for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Further perfection of organ donation system, together with development of immune-tolerance induction, gene and bioengineering technology etc. will possibly solve the problem of donor cell shortage and provide a basis for clinical application of cellular replacement therapy for T1DM.
Objective To investigate the effect of constitutively active Akt1 gene on rat engrafted islets in apoptosis and revascularization, and to explore potential method of gene therapy in the islet transplantation. Methods Rat islet which was transfected constitutively actived Akt1 gene via adenovirus vector using MOI=500. Thirty-six streptozotocin induced diabetic Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups complete randomly: Adv-CA-Akt1 group, Adv-LacZ group and simple transplantation group. Blood glucose and insulin were determined after operation. TUNEL was used to detect the apoptotic islet cells. HE and immunohistochemical staining of insulin were used to evaluate the histology of the islet grafts. The microvessel density (MVD) was determined by CD31 immunohistochemical staining. Results The fasting glucose level in Adv-CA-Akt1 group restored to normal 2 days after transplantation. However, in Adv-LacZ group and simple transplantation group, it reduced but still kept being hyperglycemia. And the serum insulin level was higher than other two groups ( P ＜ 0.05). Compared to simple transplantation group and Adv-LacZ group, apoptotic rate decreased 25% in Adv-CA-Akt1 group, a large number of islet grafts were seen under the capsule of the kidney, which were positively stained by insulin antibody. In the other two groups, the islet groups mass were lighter, and few positively stained by insulin antibody. MVD showed lighter positive endothelial cells stained by CD31 antibody in the other two groups than Adv-CA-Akt1 group ( P ＜ 0.05). Conclusion Constitutively activate Akt1 gene can prolong graft survival during early posttransplant period, and can accelerate the revascularization of islet grafts effectively.
Objective To introduce a new method of tissue engineering research by transplanting vessels to tissue engineering chamber (vascularized tissue engineering chamber) in vivo, and to review the progress of research in vascularized tissue engineering chamber. Methods The l iterature concerning all kinds of tissue engineering research in chamber was reviewed, analysed, and summarized. Results The use of vascularized tissue engineering chamber allowed generation of vascularized adipose tissue, cardiac tissue, and so on. The most common tissue engineering chamber models were arterio-venous loop model and inferior epigastric artery model. Conclusion The method of tissue engineering research by using vascularized tissue engineering chamber has a potential cl inical value and provides a promising future.
Objective To study the effect of soybean trypsin inhibitor (STI) on the rat islets’ yield and function during the process of isolation and purification. Methods The rats were divided into experiment group and control group according to whether STI was put into the collagenase. STI (2.0 mg/ml) was put into the collagenase digestive juice of the experiment group and none to the control group. For both of two groups, islets were isolated by situ perfusion collagenase into the rat pancreas and they were purified by un-continuous gradient centrifugation with Ficoll-400. The quantities of the obtained rat islets before and after purification were recorded, and the morphosis and function of the purified rat islets were tested, then their vivo function were observed after islets plantation. Results After digest and before purification, there was no obvious deviation of the obtained islets quantity between two groups 〔(624±38.2) IEQ vs (586±37.7) IEQ, P＞0.05〕; After purification, there were significant deviation in the islets quantity 〔(408±28.3) IEQ vs (189±27.1) IEQ, P＜0.05〕 and purity quotient 〔（93±2.4）% vs （75±2.1）%, P＜0.05〕. For two groups, there was no obvious deviation of the obtained islets in insulin stimulation and secretion experiment as well as their vivo function experiment. Conclusion The ultimate yield and purity quotient of the rat islets can be obviously improved by using collagenase digestive juice with SIT in situ perfusion on the rat pancreas, and it has no obvious effect on the islets function.
Objective To investigate differential points of clinical symptoms and pathology of solid-pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas (SPTP) and islet cell tumor (ICT). Methods Fifteen cases of SPTP and twelve cases of ICT were studied in this retrospective research. Clinical symptom, pathologic feature and computed tomography (CT) image of patients with both tumors were analyzed, and the imaging features were compared with pathological results. Results The mean age of SPTP patients was 22.4 year-old. Twelve patients with SPTP presented a palpable abdominal mass as the initial symptom. It was observed that the tumor cells were located in a pseudopapillary pattern with a fibro-vascular core histologically. On the CT images, a mixture of solid and cystic structures could be seen in all the tumors. After taking enhanced CT scan, the solid portion was slightly enhanced in the arterial phase and the contrast intensity increased in the portal venous phase. On the other hand, the mean age of ICT patients was 39.3 year-old. The major symptom was due to the function of islet cell tumor, which was typical in 8 patients, presenting as Whipple triad. Histologically, cells demonstrated in trabecular, massive, acinar or solid patterns, and the blood supply of the tumor was abundant. On the CT images, most small tumors were difficulty to be detected. ICT could be markedly enhanced in the arterial phase and slightly enhanced in the portal venous phase on post-contrast CT scan. Conclusion Clinical symptom, pathologic feature and CT scanning are helpful to differentiate SPTP from ICT.
ObjectiveGelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)/hyaluronic acid methacryloyl (HAMA)/chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) hydrogel was used to construct islet biomimetic microenvironment, and to explore the improvement effect of GelMA/HAMA/COS on islet activity and function under hypoxia. Methods Islets cultured on the tissue culture plate was set as the control group, on the GelMA/HAMA/COS hydrogel with COS concentrations of 0, 1, 5, 10, and 20 mg/mL respectively as the experimental groups. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the microscopic morphology, rheometer test to evaluate the gel-forming properties, contact angle to detect the hydrophilicity, and the biocompatibility was evaluated by the scaffold extract to L929 cells [using cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assay]. The islets were extracted from the pancreas of 8-week-old Sprague Dawley rats and the islet purity and function were identified by dithizone staining and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) assays, respectively. Islets were cultured under hypoxia (1%O2) for 24, 48, and 72 hours, respectively. Calcein-acetyl methyl/propidium iodide (Calcein-AM/PI) staining was used to evaluate the effect of hypoxia on islet viability. Islets were cultured in GelMA/HAMA/COS hydrogels with different COS concentrations for 48 hours, and the reactive oxygen species kits were used to evaluate the antagonism of COS against islet reactive oxygen species production under normoxia (20%O2) and hypoxia (1%O2) conditions. Calcein-AM/PI staining was used to evaluate the effect of COS on islet activity under hypoxia (1%O2) conditions. Islets were cultured in tissue culture plates (group A), GelMA/HAMA hydrogels (group B), and GelMA/HAMA/COS hydrogels (group C) for 48 hours, respectively. Immunofluorescence and GSIS assays were used to evaluate the effect of COS on islet activity under hypoxia (1%O2) conditions, respectively. Results GelMA/HAMA/COS hydrogel had a porous structure, the rheometer test showed that it had good gel-forming properties, and the contact angle test showed good hydrophilicity. CCK-8 assay showed that the hydrogel in each group had good biocompatibility. The isolated rat islets were almost round, with high islet purity and insulin secretion ability. Islets were treated with hypoxia for 24, 48, and 72 hours, Calcein-AM/PI staining showed that the number of dead cells gradually increased with time, which were significantly higher than those in the non-hypoxia-treated group (P<0.001). Reactive oxygen staining showed that GelMA/HAMA/COS hydrogels with different COS concentrations could antagonize the production of reactive oxygen under normal oxygen and hypoxia conditions, and this ability was positively correlated with COS concentration. Calcein-AM/PI staining indicated that GelMA/HAMA/COS hydrogels with different COS concentrations could improve islet viability under hypoxia conditions, and cell viability was positively correlated with COS concentration. Immunofluorescence staining showed that GelMA/HAMA/COS hydrogel could promote the expression of islet function-related genes under hypoxia conditions. GSIS assay results showed that the insulin secretion of islets in hypoxia condition of group C was significantly higher than that of groups B and C (P<0.05). Conclusion GelMA/HAMA/COS hydrogel has good biocompatibility, promotes islet survival and function by inhibiting reactive oxygen species, and is an ideal carrier for building islet biomimetic microenvironment for islet culture and transplantation.
