Cellular support systems for alginate microcapsules containing islets, as composite bioartificial pancreas.
To improve the functional performance of microencapsulated islets, we examined the effects of putative cellular support systems, consisting of rat purified Sertoli cells (SC) and astrocytes (AA), on coenveloped allogeneic islets. Coincubation of islets with SC but not AA, resulted in significant stimulation of beta cell mitogenesis, coupled with a significant increase in in vitro glucose-stimulated insulin release. Preliminarily, the xenotransplantation of coencapsulated rat islets and homologous SC significantly prolonged remission of hyperglycemia in diabetic mice.
Calafiore
R
R
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Perugia, Italy. islet@unipg.it
Luca
G
G
Calvitti
M
M
Neri
L M
LM
Basta
G
G
Capitani
S
S
Becchetti
E
E
Brunetti
P
P
D000464:Alginates; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology; D021522:Bioartificial Organs; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D008297:Male; D019397:Pancreas, Artificial; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000166:cytology
D000464:Alginates; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020723:Glucuronic Acid