Improved human pancreatic islet isolation for a prospective cohort study of islet transplantation vs best medical therapy in type 1 diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
A local multiorgan donor pancreas procurement program can provide a source for optimized isolation of purified viable islets for transplantation into patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus receiving best medical therapy.


METHODS
Prospective before-after cohort study.


METHODS
Tertiary referral center.


METHODS
Glycemic control was assessed in 10 patients with diabetes-induced renal dysfunction who were enrolled in a best medical therapy program and then crossed over to islet transplantation.


METHODS
Thirty human pancreata were retrieved from local multiorgan donors and consecutively processed with intraductal collagenase perfusion, continuous digestion, and density gradient purification (group 1, n = 9) or similarly processed but impure tissue fractions cultured in vitro and then repurified to retrieve additional islets (group 2, n = 21). Islets were implanted by percutaneous portal embolization, providing more than 10 000 islet equivalents (IE) per kilogram of body weight (infusions from 1-3 donors per patient) under cover of antithymocyte globulin, sirolimus, or mycophenolate mofetil and tacrolimus.


METHODS
Islet yields, purity, and cell viability (caspase 3, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotin-deoxyuridine 5-triphosphate nick-end labeling stain, and insulin secretion in vitro) were compared. In patients, monitored metabolic parameters were C-peptide secretion, insulin requirements, glycemic excursion, and hemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)).


RESULTS
For group 1 vs group 2, no differences were observed in pancreas age (43 vs 44 years), cold storage (5 vs 4 hours), or weight (73 vs 82 g). Group 2 yielded 453 690 IE vs 214 109 IE in group 1 (P = .002). Grafts contained 50% or more endocrine cells in both groups. No difference occurred in cell viability or insulin secretion. Islets from 90% of group 2 pancreata met release criteria for transplantation. C-peptide secretion was detected in all recipients and persisted with a median follow-up to 12 months (range, 6-21 months) after full islet transplantation. Daily insulin dependence was reversed in all patients for at least 3 months. Five patients resumed small insulin doses. Compared with the best care program, all patients had improved metabolic stability. The mean +/- SE HbA(1c) level at entry into the study was 7.8% +/- 0.5%, and this decreased to 6.9% +/- 0.2% after best care (P = .38) and further to 6.2% +/- 0.2% at 6 months after transplantation (P = .002 vs entry; P = .15 vs best care; analysis of variance).


CONCLUSIONS
Local pancreas donor retrieval with islet isolation and culture conditioning enabled an offer of islets for transplantation for 90% of consecutively processed pancreata. Isolated islets secreted insulin during prolonged follow-up after implantation into patients, yielding metabolic control comparable with that achieved by best medical therapy.
Warnock
Garth L
GL
Department of Surgery, British Columbia Islet Transplant Centre, University of British Columbia, 950 W. 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 4E3. gwarnock@interchange.ubc.ca
Meloche
R Mark
RM
Thompson
David
D
Shapiro
R Jean
RJ
Fung
Michelle
M
Ao
Ziliang
Z
Ho
Stephen
S
He
Zehua
Z
Dai
Long-Jun
LJ
Young
Linnea
L
Blackburn
Lorraine
L
Kozak
Sharon
S
Kim
Peter T W
PT
Al-Adra
David
D
Johnson
James D
JD
Liao
Yu-Huan Theresa
YH
Elliott
Tom
T
Verchere
C Bruce
CB
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology*; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting; D014181:Transplantation Immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin