Effect of basic fibroblast growth factor on insulin secretion from microencapsulated pancreatic islets: an in vitro study.

Microencapsulation of pancreatic islets represents a potentially effective method to prevent graft rejection in allotransplantation or xenotransplantation without the need of immunosuppression. Adequate insulin secretion and glucose responsiveness of microencapsulated pancreatic islets has been regarded as a prerequisite for successful transplantation. The microencapsulated pancreatic islets were respectively cultured in bFGF+ RPMI-1640 medium (bFGF+) or bFGF- RPMI-1640 medium (bFGF-) for 21 days. The functional activities of microencapsulated pancreatic islets were assessed by measuring basal insulin secretion and stimulated insulin release at different time points. The results revealed that microencapsulated pancreatic islets in the presence of bFGF demonstrated an increase in basal insulin secretion. Furthermore, microencapsulated pancreatic islets in the presence of bFGF demonstrated a marked stimulated insulin release and relative stability of stimulation indices (SI). The results in the perifusion study showed that microencapsulated pancreatic islets in the presence of bFGF maintained good glucose responsiveness over the course of culture period as well. These results indicate that bFGF has a beneficial effect on insulin secretion from microencapsulated pancreatic islets during in vitro culture. New strategies for preserving and improving function of microencapsulated pancreatic islets prior to transplantation may be developed by application of growth factors or other factors.