Promoting islet cell function after transplantation.
Engraftment (i.e., the adaptation of transplanted pancreatic islets to their new surroundings with regard to revascularization, reinnervation, and reorganization of other stromal compartments) is of crucial importance for the survival and function of the endocrine cells. Previous studies suggest that transplantation induces both vascular and stromal dysfunctions in the implanted islets when compared with endogenous islets. Thus the vascular density and the blood perfusion of islet grafts is decreased and accompanied with a capillary hypertension. This leads to hypoxic conditions, with an associated shift toward anaerobic metabolism in grafted islets. An improved engraftment will prevent or compensate for the vascular/stromal dysfunction seen in transplanted islets and thereby augment survival of the islet implant. By such means the number of islets needed to cure the recipient will be lessened. This will increase the number of patients that can be transplanted with the limited material available.
Department of Medical Cell Biology, Biomedical Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. Arne.Andersson@medcellbiol.uu.se
Arne
A
Andersson
Per-Ola
PO
Carlsson
Carina
C
Carlsson
Richard
R
Olsson
Astrid
A
Nordin
Magnus
M
Johansson
Fredrik
F
Palm
Björn
B
Tyrberg
Orjan
O
Källskog
Linda
L
Tillmar
Nils
N
Welsh
Göran
G
Mattsson
Leif
L
Jansson
D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D000860:Hypoxia; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008820:Mice, Obese; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism
D010100:Oxygen