Baylor Institute for Immunology Research, Baylor Research Institute, Dallas, TX, USA.
Cell Transplant. 2010;19(6):731-41. doi: 10.3727/096368910X508834. Epub 2010 Jun 3.
Islet transplantation is an attractive therapy for type 1 diabetes, although some issues remain. One of them is the severe donor shortage in some countries. In this study, we investigated the possibility of international islet shipping beyond 10,000 km to supply islets to countries with donor shortages. Human islets were isolated from six cadaver donors and cultured until shipment. Islets were packed in either gas-permeable bags or in non-gas-permeable bags and shipped from Baylor Research Institute (Dallas, TX, USA) to Fukuoka University (Fukuoka, Japan). Pre- and postshipment islet number, purity, viability, and stimulation index (by glucose stimulation test) were assessed. Shipped 1,500 IE islets were transplanted into streptozotocin-induced diabetic nude mice for in vivo assay. The distance of our shipment was 11,148.4 km, and the mean duration of the shipments was 48.2 ± 8.2 h. The islet number recovery rate (postshipment/preshipment) was significantly higher in gas-permeable bags (56.4 ± 10.1% vs. 20.5 ± 20.6%, p < 0.01). Islet purity was significantly reduced during shipment in non-gas-permeable bags (from 47.7 ± 18.6% to 40.2 ± 28.2 in gas-permeable bags vs. from 50.4 ± 6.4% to 25.9 ± 15.6% in non-gas-permeable bags, p < 0.05). Islet viability and stimulation index did not change significantly between pre- and postshipping, in either gas-permeable bags or in non-gas-permeable bags. One of three diabetic nude mice (33.3%) converted to normoglycemia. It is feasible to ship human islet cells internationally in gas-permeable bags. This strategy would promote basic and preclinical research for countries with donor shortages, even though the research centers are remote (over 10,000 km from the islet isolation center).
胰岛移植是治疗 1 型糖尿病的一种有吸引力的疗法，但仍存在一些问题。其中之一是在某些国家严重缺乏供体。在这项研究中，我们研究了将胰岛从 10000 公里以外的国家运输到供体短缺的国家的可能性。我们从 6 名尸体供体中分离出人胰岛并培养直至运输。胰岛被包装在透气袋或非透气袋中，并从贝勒研究所（达拉斯，TX，美国）运到福冈大学（福冈，日本）。评估了运输前后胰岛的数量、纯度、活力和刺激指数（通过葡萄糖刺激试验）。将 1500IE 胰岛移植到链脲佐菌素诱导的糖尿病裸鼠中进行体内检测。我们的运输距离为 11148.4 公里，运输时间平均为 48.2±8.2 小时。透气袋中胰岛数量回收率（运输后/运输前）显著更高（56.4±10.1%比 20.5±20.6%，p<0.01）。非透气袋在运输过程中胰岛纯度显著降低（从 47.7±18.6%到 40.2±28.2%在透气袋中，从 50.4±6.4%到 25.9±15.6%在非透气袋中，p<0.05）。透气袋和非透气袋中，运输前后胰岛活力和刺激指数均无显著变化。3 只糖尿病裸鼠中有 1 只（33.3%）转为正常血糖。在透气袋中进行国际人胰岛细胞运输是可行的。即使研究中心（距离胰岛分离中心超过 10000 公里）偏远，这种策略也将促进供体短缺国家的基础和临床前研究。
