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A Method for Murine Islet Isolation and Subcapsular Kidney Transplantation
Published on: April 13, 2011
Effect of donor age on function of isolated human islets
Sung-Hee Ihm1, Ippei Matsumoto, Toshiya Sawada
1Diabetes Institute for Immunology and Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, MMC 195, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
Diabetes
|April 29, 2006
Summary
Donor age significantly impacts isolated islet function. Younger donor islets show better glucose-stimulated insulin release and higher success rates in transplantation, suggesting age-related decline in beta-cell function.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Transplantation Immunology
- Metabolic Research
Background:
- Islet transplantation is a key therapy for type 1 diabetes.
- Donor factors significantly influence islet graft survival and function.
- The impact of donor age on islet function requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of donor age on isolated human islet function.
- To correlate donor age with key functional parameters including insulin release and ATP content.
- To assess the impact of donor age on clinical islet allotransplantation outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of human islets from cadaveric donors (16-70 years) using glucose-stimulated insulin release (GSIR), islet ATP content, and diabetic nude mouse bioassays.
- Evaluation of insulin secretory function post-clinical islet allotransplantation.
- Statistical correlation analysis between donor age and functional parameters.
Main Results:
- Younger donors (<=40 years) exhibited significantly higher GSIR index and islet ATP content compared to older donors.
- Islets from younger donors demonstrated higher diabetes reversal rates in mouse bioassays (96% vs. 68%).
- Post-transplantation, C-peptide increment negatively correlated with donor age (r=-0.872) and positively with islet mass (r=0.832).
Conclusions:
- Insulin secretory response to glucose significantly deteriorates with increasing donor age.
- Age-related decline in islet function may be linked to reduced ATP generation in beta-cells.
- Optimizing donor selection based on age is crucial for successful islet transplantation outcomes.

