1 Department of Reparative Materials, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. 2 Radioisotope Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. 3 Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology (IGP), Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. 4 Address correspondence to: Hiroo Iwata, Ph.D., Department of Reparative Materials, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-Cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-Ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
Transplantation. 2014 Feb 15;97(3):287-93. doi: 10.1097/01.TP.0000438198.76531.03.
Transplantation of islets of Langerhans (islets) was used to treat insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. However, islet grafts must be maintained by administration of immunosuppressive drugs, which can lead to complications in the long term. An approach that avoids immunosuppressive drug use is desirable.
Co-aggregates of Sertoli cells and islet cells from BALB/c mice that were prepared by the hanging drop method were transplanted into C57BL/6 mouse liver through the portal vein as in human clinical islet transplantation.
The core part of the aggregates contained mainly Sertoli cells, and these cells were surrounded by islet cells. The co-aggregates retained the functions of both Sertoli and islet cells. When 800 co-aggregates were transplanted into seven C57BL/6 mice via the portal vein, six of seven recipient mice demonstrated quasi-normoglycemia for more than 100 days.
The hanging drop method is suitable for preparing aggregates of Sertoli and islet cells for transplantation. Notably, transplantation of these allogeneic co-aggregates into mice with chemically induced diabetes via the portal vein resulted in long-term graft survival without systemic immunosuppression.
胰岛（islets）移植曾被用于治疗胰岛素依赖型糖尿病。然而，胰岛移植物必须通过免疫抑制药物的维持，这可能会导致长期并发症。因此，理想的方法是避免使用免疫抑制剂。
通过悬滴法制备的来自 BALB/c 小鼠的 Sertoli 细胞和胰岛细胞共聚集物，通过门静脉移植到 C57BL/6 小鼠的肝脏中，就像人类临床胰岛移植一样。
聚集物的核心部分主要包含 Sertoli 细胞，这些细胞被胰岛细胞包围。共聚集物保留了 Sertoli 和胰岛细胞的功能。当 800 个共聚集物通过门静脉移植到 7 只 C57BL/6 小鼠中时，7 只受体小鼠中有 6 只在 100 天以上表现出准正常血糖。
悬滴法适合用于制备 Sertoli 和胰岛细胞的共聚集物用于移植。值得注意的是，将这些同种异体共聚集物通过门静脉移植到化学诱导的糖尿病小鼠中，无需全身免疫抑制即可实现长期移植物存活。
