Rotational Transport of Islets: The Best Way for Islets to Get around?

Abstract

Islet transplantation is a valid treatment option for patients suffering from type 1 diabetes mellitus. To assure optimal islet cell quality, specialized islet isolation facilities have been developed. Utilization of such facilities necessitates transportation of islet cells to distant institutions for transplantation. Despite its importance, a clinically feasible solution for the transport of islets has still not been established. We here compare the functionality of isolated islets from C57BL/6 mice directly after the isolation procedure as well as after two simulated transport conditions, static versus rotation. Islet cell quality was assessed using real-time live confocal microscopy. In vivo islet function after syngeneic transplantation was determined by weight and blood sugar measurements as well as by intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests. Vascularization of islets was documented by fluorescence microscopy and immunohistochemistry. All viability parameters documented comparable cell viability in the rotary group and the group transplanted immediately after isolation. Functional parameters assessed in vivo displayed no significant difference between these two groups. Moreover, vascularization of islets was similar in both groups. In conclusion, rotary culture conditions allows the maintenance of highest islet quality for at least 15 h, which is comparable to that of freshly isolated islets.

Oxygen-permeable microwell device maintains islet mass and integrity during shipping

“…To provide standardized islet tissue for assessment of the shipping device, we used islets from C57Bl/6 mice to assess the biological responses following shipment in our prototype device. Islet viability and function were compared after shipment of islets on the microwell devices and under standard reference conditions in non-gas-permeable tubes ( 22 , 33 , 34 ). We determined islet viability of murine islets subjected to pseudo-shipping for 5 h, a time period that reflects the transportation time of islets between isolation and transplanting centers using commercial carriers based on our experience ( Supplementary Table 3 ) and others ( 52 ).…”

“…Tubes were filled with complete media before sealing. This is representative of shipping human islets in 50 mL Falcon tubes, a practice that is widely used in many isolating centers worldwide and an accepted reference shipping method ( 22 , 33 , 34 ). The PDMS devices were prepared for transport by inserting a permeable filter mesh to cover the islet-containing microwell surface, then filling the device with complete media before closing and sealing the device with the cast PDMS lid ( Fig.…”

Human Islet Isolation and Distribution Efforts for Clinical and Basic Research

“…Although several studies have advocated the use of gas-permeable bags to transport clinical-grade islets in order to reduce hypoxia and maintain islet quality, the advantages of these bags are not entirely consistent across studies [48][49][50][51]. Rotary systems have also been proposed to circumvent the problem of diffused oxygen and nutrient gradients in static systems [52,53].…”