title: Normoglycemia restores beta-cell replicative response to glucose in transplanted islets exposed to chronic hyperglycemia.
abstract: We studied the effects of chronic hyperglycemia on beta-cell replication and mass in transplanted (Tx) islets. Five groups of streptozocin-induced diabetic C57Bl/6 mice were transplanted with 100 (Tx-100) syngeneic islets, an insufficient beta-cell mass to restore normoglycemia. Groups 1 and 2 remained hyperglycemic throughout the study; after 30 days of hyperglycemia, a second transplantation of 250 islets (Tx-250) restored normoglycemia in groups 3, 4, and 5. Tx-250 was harvested on day 60 in all three groups, and transient mild hyperglycemia developed (10-12 days); thereafter, Tx-100 maintained blood glucose values in the normal range. Tx-100 was harvested 14 (group 1), 60 (groups 2 and 3), 74 (group 4), and 90 (group 5) days after transplantation. Hyperglycemia increased beta-cell replication after 14 days (group 1: 1.26 +/- 0.18%, P < 0.05) but not after 60 days (group 2: 0.59 +/- 0.13%) compared with islets exposed to normoglycemia (group 3: 0.51 +/- 0.07%) (analysis of variance [ANOVA], P < 0.0002). beta-cell replication in group 4 increased after Tx-250 harvesting (0.94 +/- 0.16%, P < 0.05). The initially Tx beta-cell mass (0.21 +/- 0.014 mg) was progressively reduced in hyperglycemic groups (group 1: 0.13 +/- 0.020 mg; group 2: 0.048 +/- 0.012 mg; P < 0.05) (ANOVA, P = 0.0001). Restoration of normoglycemia after Tx-250 did not modify beta-cell mass in Tx-100 grafts (group 3: 0.076 +/- 0.008 mg). However, after Tx-250 harvesting, beta-cell mass increased progressively (group 4: 0.11 +/- 0.018 mg; group 5: 0.14 +/- 0.026 mg, P < 0.05), although it was still reduced compared with the initially Tx beta-cell mass (P < 0.05). In summary, Tx islets exposed to severe chronic hyperglycemia showed a limited beta-cell replication and a progressive reduction in beta-cell mass. With normoglycemia, the Tx beta-cells recovered the replicative response to glucose and partially restored the initially Tx beta-cell mass, indicating that normoglycemia, even after long-term hyperglycemia, has a beneficial effect in islet transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Unit, Ciutat Sanitària i Universitària de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nacher
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Merino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raurell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Soler
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Montanya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000473:pathology*; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000473:pathology*; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D005947:Glucose