Co-culture of extracellular matrix suppresses the cell death of rat pancreatic islets

• Published in: Journal of biomaterials science. Polymer ed. Vol. 13; no. 5; pp. 579 - 590
• Main Authors: Nagata, Natsuki, Iwanaga, Asuka, Inoue, Kazutomo, Tabata, Yasuhiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis Group 01-01-2002
• Subjects: Animals; Apoptosis - drug effects; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Size; Cell Survival - drug effects; CELL VIABILITY; Coculture Techniques; COLLAGEN GEL; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX; Extracellular Matrix - chemistry; Extracellular Matrix - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; Islets of Langerhans - cytology; Islets of Langerhans - drug effects; Islets of Langerhans - metabolism; Male; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism
• ISSN: 0920-5063; 1568-5624
• DOI: 10.1163/15685620260178418

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of culture microenvironment on the cell death of isolated rat pancreatic islets. After isolation by the conventional collagenase digestion technique,
the islets were cultured in a hydrogel of collagen type I mixed with collagen type III, type IV,and laminin. Irrespective of the type of mixture, islet cell death was significantly suppressed by their co-culture
with the collagen hydrogel mixtures, although no change in islet morphology was observed. Co-culture with the collagen mixtures had no influence on the expressed mRNA level of insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin
of the islets, or the islet secretion of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), interleukin (IL)-1α, and IL-1β. These findings suggest that three-dimensional culture in the collagen hydrogel and the
mixture of laminin is able to maintain the cell viability of islets.