title: 3-D Imaging Reveals Participation of Donor Islet Schwann Cells and Pericytes in Islet Transplantation and Graft Neurovascular Regeneration.
abstract: The primary cells that participate in islet transplantation are the endocrine cells. However, in the islet microenvironment, the endocrine cells are closely associated with the neurovascular tissues consisting of the Schwann cells and pericytes, which form sheaths/barriers at the islet exterior and interior borders. The two cell types have shown their plasticity in islet injury, but their roles in transplantation remain unclear. In this research, we applied 3-dimensional neurovascular histology with cell tracing to reveal the participation of Schwann cells and pericytes in mouse islet transplantation. Longitudinal studies of the grafts under the kidney capsule identify that the donor Schwann cells and pericytes re-associate with the engrafted islets at the peri-graft and perivascular domains, respectively, indicating their adaptability in transplantation. Based on the morphological proximity and cellular reactivity, we propose that the new islet microenvironment should include the peri-graft Schwann cell sheath and perivascular pericytes as an integral part of the new tissue.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan ; Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jyuhn-Huarng
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Juang
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan ; Biomedical Technology and Device Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu 31040, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: Connectomics Research Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan ; Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Jung
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Connectomics Research Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan ; Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan ; Department of Medical Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shiue-Cheng
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000502:physiology; D060833:Cellular Microenvironment / Q000502:physiology; D042783:Endothelial Cells; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000502:physiology; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D009441:Neurilemma / Q000502:physiology; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D020286:Pericytes / Q000166:cytology*; D012038:Regeneration; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology*
keywords: 2-D, 2-dimensional; 3-D histology; 3-D, 3-dimensional; GFAP, glial fibrillary acidic protein; GFP, green fluorescence protein; Islet transplantation; NG2, neuron-glial antigen 2; Pericytes; Reinnervation; Revascularization; Schwann cells