Islets of Langerhans are protected from inflammatory cell recruitment during reperfusion of rat pancreas grafts.
BACKGROUND
Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury plays a pivotal role in the development of graft pancreatitis, with ischemia time representing one of its crucial factors. However, it is unclear, whether exocrine and endocrine tissue experience similar inflammatory responses during pancreas transplantation (PTx). This study evaluated inflammatory susceptibilities of islets of Langerhans (ILH) and exocrine tissue after different preservation periods during early reperfusion.


METHODS
PTx was performed in rats following 2 h (2h-I) or 18 h (18h-I) preservation. Leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions (LEI) were analyzed in venules of acinar tissue and ILH in vivo over 2 h reperfusion. Nontransplanted animals served as controls. Tissue samples were analyzed by histomorphometry.


RESULTS
In exocrine venules leukocyte rolling predominated in the 2h-I group. In the 18h-I group, additionally, high numbers of adherent leukocytes were found. Histology revealed significant edema formation and leukocyte extravasation in the 18h-I group. Notably, LEI in postcapillary venules of ILH were significantly lower. Leukocyte rolling was only moderately enhanced and few leukocytes were found adherent. Histology revealed minor leukocyte extravasation.


CONCLUSIONS
Ischemia time contributes decisively to the extent of the I/R-injury in PTx. However, ILH have a significantly lower susceptibility towards I/R, even when inflammatory reactions in adjacent exocrine tissue are evident.
Department of Surgery, Klinikum Grosshadern, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Munich, Germany. gerhard.preissler @ med.uni-muenchen.de
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G
Preissler
S
S
Massberg
M E
ME
Eichhorn
H
H
Waldner
F
F
Loehe
H
H
Winter
K
K
Messmer
D000818:Animals; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000098:blood supply / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000379:methods; D010179:Pancreas / Q000098:blood supply / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors; D014185:Transplantation, Isogeneic