title: Automated, high-throughput assays for evaluation of human pancreatic islet function.
abstract: An important challenge in pancreatic islet transplantation in association with type 1 diabetes is to define automatic high-throughput assays for evaluation of human islet function. The physiological techniques presently used are amenable to small-scale experimental samples and produce descriptive results. The postgenomic era provides an opportunity to analyze biological processes on a larger scale, but the transition to high-throughput technologies is still a challenge. As a first step to implement high-throughput assays for the study of human islet function, we have developed two methodologies: multiple automated perifusion to determine islet hormone secretion and high-throughput kinetic imaging to examine islet cellular responses. Both technologies use fully automated devices that allow performing simultaneous experiments on multiple islet preparations. Our results illustrate that these technologies can be applied to study the functional status and explore the pharmacological profiles of islet cells. These methodologies will enable functional characterization of human islet preparations before transplantation and thereby provide the basis for the establishment of predictive tests for beta-cell potency.
authors: Diabetes Research Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
authors: Over
authors: O
authors: Cabrera
authors: M Caroline
authors: MC
authors: Jacques-Silva
authors: Dora M
authors: DM
authors: Berman
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Fachado
authors: Felipe
authors: F
authors: Echeverri
authors: Ramon
authors: R
authors: Poo
authors: Aisha
authors: A
authors: Khan
authors: Norma S
authors: NS
authors: Kenyon
authors: Camillo
authors: C
authors: Ricordi
authors: Per-Olof
authors: PO
authors: Berggren
authors: Alejandro
authors: A
authors: Caicedo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001322:Autoanalysis; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology; D005934:Glucagon / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D019520:Living Donors; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D010187:Pancreatic Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D010477:Perfusion; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D010187:Pancreatic Hormones; D005934:Glucagon; D005947:Glucose; D002118:Calcium