[Impact of PEG-packed islets upon anti-rejection therapy in homogeneous murine islet transplantation].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the impact of polyethylene glycols (PEG) upon islet survival in homogeneous murine islet transplantation and understand the impact of PEGylation in combination with rapamycin upon anti-rejection therapy in homogeneous mice islet transplantation.


METHODS
The subcutaneously pre-vascularized STZ-induced diabetic mice treated with transplanted islets of BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 6 groups: Group A with normal mice islets; Group B with PEG-packed islets; Group C with normal mice islets and 1.5 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) rapamycin; Group D with PEG-packed islets and 1.5 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) rapamycin; Group E with normal mice islets and 3 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) rapamycin; Group F with PEG-packed islets and 3 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) rapamycin. The post-transplantation blood glucose was monitored. Transplanted islets were analyzed by H&E and insulin immunostain.


RESULTS
The survival time in group B was significantly prolonged as compared with group A (P < 0.01). The survival time in group C were (35.0 +/- 3.1) d and groups D, E, F had survival of up to 6 weeks. Transplantation sites of group A were observed with a more abundant infiltration of immune cells than group B. And the unmodified islets in group A were completely destroyed after transplantation. Insulin-positive islet cells were not detected at the entire transplantation site in group A while the presence was found at the transplantation site in group B.


CONCLUSIONS
PEG-packed islets can significantly improve the survival time of transplanted islets. When combined with rapamycin, it can reduce the dose of rapamycin.
Liu
Jun
J
Department of Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China.
Rui
Xiao-hui
XH
Wang
Qian-wei
QW
Zhang
Qun-hua
QH
Chen
Zong-you
ZY
D000818:Animals; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D011092:Polyethylene Glycols