Xenotransplantation of Encapsulated Co-Aggregates of Sertoli Cells and Islet Cells

• Published in: Transplantation Vol. 96; p. 365
• Main Authors: Kuwabara, Rei, Takemoto, Naohiro, Iwata, HIroo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 27-09-2013
• ISSN: 0041-1337

Transplantation therapy utilising isolated, donor islets of Langer hans (islets) has been employed successfully to treat insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. However, it remains an experimental procedure, and shortage of human donor is one of major obstacles to overcome. For improvement of a xenograft survival, we examined co-transplantat ion of islets with Sertoli cells which are known to have immunosuppressive ability. Co-aggregates of Sertoli cells and islet cells from Wistar rat that were prepared by the hanging drop method were encapsulated with agarose gel. In the agarose-encapsulated aggregates, the sertoli cells occupied the core part while islet cells engulfed the sertoli core aggregate (Figure 1). The Sertoli portion continuously released activin, and islet cells could regulate insulin release in response to glucose concentration changes, indicating that the encapsulated co-aggregates well maintained the functions of both Sertoli and islet cells. Agarose-encapsulated aggregates from Wistar rat were transplanted into each diabetic BALB/c mouse intraperitoneally, and their blood glucose levels were monitored. Insulin levels remained low after transplantation in the recipients, whereas sharply increased in recipient mice with agarose-encapsulated naive islets.