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Scaffold-supported Transplantation of Islets in the Epididymal Fat Pad of Diabetic Mice
Published on: July 23, 2017
Bone marrow cavity: a supportive environment for islet engraftment.
Karen Kover1, Pei Ying Tong, Donna Pacicca
1Children's Mercy Hospital and University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA. kkover@cmh.edu
Islets
|April 23, 2011
Summary
Transplanting islets into the bone marrow cavity reversed hyperglycemia in diabetic rats, suggesting this site supports long-term islet engraftment and function. Bone marrow may offer a protective environment for transplanted islets.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Transplantation Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Type 1 diabetes treatment requires successful islet transplantation.
- Identifying optimal transplantation sites is crucial for long-term islet engraftment and function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the bone marrow cavity as a potential site for islet transplantation.
- To assess the impact of bone marrow microenvironment on islet survival and function.
Main Methods:
- Islet transplantation into renal subcapsular, intrahepatic, and bone marrow sites in diabetic rats.
- Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and glucose tolerance tests (GTT) for graft function assessment.
- In vitro culture of human islets with osteoblast-conditioned medium to evaluate supportive factors.
Main Results:
- Islet transplantation into the bone marrow cavity led to sustained normoglycemia and diabetes reversal in rats for four months.
- Histological analysis confirmed viable islets within the bone marrow space post-transplantation.
- Osteoblast-conditioned medium enhanced human islet gene expression, insulin secretion, and content, mediated by osteocalcin.
Conclusions:
- The bone marrow cavity is a viable and effective site for islet transplantation, promoting long-term engraftment and function.
- The bone marrow microenvironment, potentially through osteocalcin, provides protective factors for transplanted islets, enhancing survival and function.
