[Effects of three different immunosuppressive drugs on SD rat islet cell viability].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of immunosuppressive drugs on the viability of pancreatic islet cells cultured in vitro, and to explore their effects on the outcome of islet transplantation.


METHODS
Pancreatic islet cells from SD rats were cultured in vitro, and the changes in their viability determined by MTT assay after incubation with immunosuppressive drugs at different concentrations.


RESULTS
The viability of the islet cells was reduced after exposure to rapamycin at higher concentrations (>or= 1 ng/ml), but not at lower concentrations. Treatment with daclizumab and FTY720, at either lower or higher concentrations, did not result in significant reduction of the islet viability.


CONCLUSIONS
Rapamycin may directly cause damage to islet cells, the degree of which is positively correlated to the concentration of rapamycin. No obvious toxicity of daclizumab and FTY720 was observed against the islet cells.
Zhao
De-ming
DM
Department of Endocrinology, Zhujiang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China.
Zhang
Hua
H
Chen
Hong
H
Cai
De-hong
DH
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000077561:Daclizumab; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000494:pharmacology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology*; D011409:Propylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000494:pharmacology; D013110:Sphingosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011409:Propylene Glycols; D000077561:Daclizumab; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride; D013110:Sphingosine; D020123:Sirolimus