Functional impact of attachment and purification in the short term culture of human pancreatic islets.

We have evaluated the effects on islet function of several manipulations of the substrate and tissue culture conditions in the short term culture of human islets. Specifically, we have studied the influence of several matrices, additions to the medium, and the use of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-saporin mitotoxins to eliminate fibroblastoid cells from the cultures. The human islets were obtained from the Human Islet Transplant Center at Washington University Medical Center (St. Louis, MO). Substrates used to facilitate islet attachment were poly-L-lysine, gelatin, Matrigel, collagen, and bovine corneal endothelial cell matrix. RPMI-1640 medium was supplemented with either 22.2 mM glucose or 10 micrograms/mL human insulin. FGF-saporin mitotoxin was used at a concentration of 10 nM. The greatest improvement in islet cell function in either static or stimulated situations was obtained when we used bovine corneal endothelial cell matrix as the matrix, supplemented the medium with a high concentration of glucose or insulin, and eliminated fibroblast-like cells by exposing the cultures to basic FGF-saporin mitotoxin. The conditions described in this report could greatly improve the culture of human islets for use in clinical and laboratory research.