Influence of hepatic cells on allogeneic islet transplantation in rats without immunosuppressive drugs.
With the hypothesis of a possible helpful effect of the liver on islets transplanted into it, we have performed experiments that suggest some effect of hepatic cells for islet tolerance. We have studied 6 groups of Wistar rats made diabetic with streptozotocin and transplanted in sham conditions and with a mixture of islets and hepatic cells (allo-co-transplantation) in several conditions, all of them via the portal vein, and observed them over 30 days. Groups were as follows: Group A had a sham transplantation with saline. Group B was transplanted with hepatic cells alone. Group C was transplanted with islets alone without hepatic cells. Group D was co-transplanted with cultured islets and fresh hepatic cells (ratio 1:100). Group E was as group D with a ratio of 1:200. Group F also had co-transplantation, but after co-culture of islets and hepatic cells for 24 hours. Results show reversion of diabetes in group D for 4-5 days, and thereafter, a fall of blood glucose during the period observed. The effect was less marked in group F after co-culture of islets and hepatic cells. Paradoxically, when the ratio of islets and hepatic cell were 1:200, the results were not so good. These results suggest that hepatic cells have some helpful effect on islets when co-transplanted in the liver via the portal vein. More studies are needed to clarify if this effect can be related to some hepatic cell subpopulation; also if the effect is a membrane one, cell-to-cell contact, or through some secreted product.
Servicio de Endocrinología Unidad de Medicina y Cirugía Experimental, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
A
A
Jara-Albarrán
L
L
Soto-Montenegro
R
R
del Rio
S
S
Alvarez
C
C
Martin-Scapa
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents