Successful xenotransplantation of microencapsulated newborn pig parathyroid cells in the treatment of hypoparathyroidism in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of xenotransplantation with pig parathyroid cells, which was prepared using cell microencapsulation technique, on the treatment of hypoparathyroidism in rats without immunosuppressor.


METHODS
Parathyroid cells were isolated from 10 healthy newborn pigs and encapsulated in alginate-polylysine-alginate (APA) membranes. Thirty-two aparathyroid Wistar rats were randomly allocated to microcapsule, non-microcapsule, empty microcapsule, and control groups. Each rat was injected intraperitoneally with encapsulated porcine parathyroid cells, free porcine parathyroid cells, empty capsules or 0.9% NaCl, respectively. Total serum calcium and parathyroid hormone levels were monitored continuously for 40 weeks. And then, the transplant beds were retrieved and subjected to morphologic and electron microscopic examination.


RESULTS
In those animals xenotransplanted with microencapsulated porcine parathyroid cells, the calcium and PTH levels were consistently within the normal range during the 40 weeks. In contrast, no therapeutic effects were observed in rats in the non-microcapsule group. Furthermore, neither empty capsules nor 0.9% NaCl were shown to have any effect on the recipient's serum calcium or PTH levels. After 40 weeks, electron microscopic examination demonstrated that the parathyroid cells within the microcapsules had survived well in vivo.


CONCLUSIONS
Xenotransplantation of microencapsulated newborn pig parathyroid cells can successfully treat hypoparathyroidism in rats without using immunosuppressive drugs. The results of this study show the possible clinical use of microencapsulated porcine parathyroid cells.
Lin
Lemin
L
Department of Surgery, First Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China.
Song
Yimin
Y
Song
Chun
C
Xu
Ping
P
Song
Chunfang
C
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002214:Capsules; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000628:therapy*; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000166:cytology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013552:Swine; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000379:methods
D002214:Capsules; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D002118:Calcium