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Ravi PK, Purkait S, Agrawal U, Patra S, Patnaik M, Singh SR, Mishra PR. Regional variation of human pancreatic islets dimension and its impact on beta cells in Indian population. Islets 2019; 11:141-151. [PMID: 31743072 PMCID: PMC6930023 DOI: 10.1080/19382014.2019.1686323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background & objectives: Islet of Langerhans, the endocrine pancreas plays a significant role in glucose metabolism. Obesity and insulin resistance are the major factors responsible for beta cell dysfunction. Asian Indian population has increased susceptibility to diabetes in spite of having lower BMI. The morphology of islets plays a significant role in beta cell function. The present study was designed for better understanding the morphology, composition and distribution of islets in different parts of the pancreas and its impact on beta cell proportion. Methods: We observed islet morphology and beta cell area proportion by Large-scale computer-assisted analysis in 20 adult human pancreases in non-diabetic Indian population. Immunohistochemical staining with anti-synaptophysin and anti-insulin antibody was used to detect islet and beta cells respectively. Whole slide images were analyzed using ImageJ software. Results: Endocrine proportion were heterogeneously increasing from head to tail with maximum islet and beta cell distribution in the tail region. Larger islets were predominately confined to the tail region. The islets in Indian population were relatively smaller in size, but they have more beta cells (20%) when compared to American population. Interpretation & conclusions: The beta cells of larger islets are functionally more active than the smaller islets via paracrine effect. Thus, reduction in the number of larger islets may be one of the probable reasons for increased susceptibility of Indians to diabetes even at lower BMI. Knowledge about the regional distribution of islets will help the surgeons to preserve the islet rich regions during surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Kumar Ravi
- Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Suvendu Purkait
- Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Usha Agrawal
- Scientist F., National Institute of Pathology, ICMR, New Delhi, India
| | - Susama Patra
- Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Madhumita Patnaik
- Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Sudipta Ranjan Singh
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Pravash Ranjan Mishra
- Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India
- CONTACT Pravash Ranjan Mishra Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India
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2
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Butterworth E, Dickerson W, Vijay V, Weitzel K, Cooper J, Atkinson EW, Coleman JE, Otto KJ, Campbell-Thompson M. High Resolution 3D Imaging of the Human Pancreas Neuro-insular Network. J Vis Exp 2018. [PMID: 29443037 PMCID: PMC5912252 DOI: 10.3791/56859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Using traditional histological methods, researchers are hampered in their ability to image whole tissues or organs in large-scale 3D. Histological sections are generally limited to <20 µm as formalin fixed paraffin section on glass slides or <500 µm for free-floating fixed sections. Therefore, extensive efforts are required for serial sectioning and large-scale image reconstruction methods to recreate 3D for samples >500 µm using traditional methods. In addition, light scatters from macromolecules within tissues, particularly lipids, prevents imaging to a depth >150 µm with most confocal microscopes. To reduce light scatter and to allow for deep tissue imaging using simple confocal microscopy, various optical clearing methods have been developed that are relevant for rodent and human tissue samples fixed by immersion. Several methods are related and use protein crosslinking with acrylamide and tissue clearing with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Other optical clearing techniques used various solvents though each modification had various advantages and disadvantages. Here, an optimized passive optical clearing method is described for studies of the human pancreas innervation and specifically for interrogation of the innervation of human islets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Butterworth
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Experimental Medicine, University of Florida
| | - Wesley Dickerson
- Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University
| | - Vindhya Vijay
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida
| | - Kristina Weitzel
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Experimental Medicine, University of Florida
| | - Julia Cooper
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Experimental Medicine, University of Florida
| | - Eric W Atkinson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Florida
| | - Jason E Coleman
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Florida
| | - Kevin J Otto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Florida
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3
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Stereological analyses of the whole human pancreas. Sci Rep 2016; 6:34049. [PMID: 27658965 PMCID: PMC5034323 DOI: 10.1038/srep34049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2016] [Accepted: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The large size of human tissues requires a practical stereological approach to perform a comprehensive analysis of the whole organ. We have developed a method to quantitatively analyze the whole human pancreas, as one of the challenging organs to study, in which endocrine cells form various sizes of islets that are scattered unevenly throughout the exocrine pancreas. Furthermore, the human pancreas possesses intrinsic characteristics of intra-individual variability, i.e. regional differences in endocrine cell/islet distribution, and marked inter-individual heterogeneity regardless of age, sex and disease conditions including obesity and diabetes. The method is built based on large-scale image capture, computer-assisted unbiased image analysis and quantification, and further mathematical analyses, using widely-used software such as Fiji/ImageJ and MATLAB. The present study includes detailed protocols of every procedure as well as all the custom-written computer scripts, which can be modified according to specific experimental plans and specimens of interest.
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Hawthorne WJ. Necessities for a Clinical Islet Program. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016; 938:67-88. [PMID: 27586423 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-39824-2_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
For more than two decades we have been refining advances in islet cell transplantation as a clinical therapy for patients suffering from type 1 diabetes. A great deal of effort has gone to making this a viable therapy for a broader range of patients with type 1 diabetes. Clinical results have progressively improved, demonstrating clinical outcomes on par with other organ transplants, specifically in terms of insulin independence, graft and patient survival. We are now at the point where islet cell transplantation, in the form of allotransplantation, has become accepted as a clinical therapy in adult patients affected by type 1 diabetes, in particular those suffering from severe hypoglycaemic unawareness. This chapter provides an overview on how this has been undertaken over the years to provide outcomes on par with other organ transplantation results. In particular this chapter focuses on the processes and facilities that are required to establish a clinical islet isolation and transplantation program. It also outlines the very important underpinning processes of selection of the organ donor for islet isolation, the processes of organ donor operation and preservation of the pancreas by various means and the ideal ways to best improve outcomes for human islet cell isolation. Providing these more optimal conditions we can underpin the isolation processes to provide islets for transplantation and as such a safe, effective and feasible therapeutic option for an increasing number of patients suffering from type 1 diabetes with severe hypoglycaemic unawareness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wayne J Hawthorne
- National Pancreas and Islet Transplant Laboratories, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia. .,Department of Surgery, Westmead Clinical School, Westmead Hospital, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia.
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5
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Poudel A, Savari O, Striegel DA, Periwal V, Taxy J, Millis JM, Witkowski P, Atkinson MA, Hara M. Beta-cell destruction and preservation in childhood and adult onset type 1 diabetes. Endocrine 2015; 49:693-702. [PMID: 25605478 PMCID: PMC4511725 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-015-0534-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies describing the symptomatic onset of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and rate of beta-cell loss (C-peptide) support the notion that childhood onset T1D exhibits more severe beta-cell depletion compared to adult onset T1D. To test this notion, we performed whole pancreas analyses in two T1D cases, one of childhood onset (7-year old, onset at 1.5-year) along with an adult onset case (43-year old with onset at 27-year). Both cases were matched for age and gender with control subjects. Striking regional differences in beta-cell loss were observed in both T1D cases, with severity of loss in the order of tail > body > head regions. In contrast, pancreatic alpha- and delta-cell mass was similar in controls and T1D patients. In the childhood onset T1D case, no intra-islet beta-cells were detected while in the adult onset case, beta-cell containing islets were found, exclusively in the head region. In the latter case, considerable numbers of small cellular clusters negative for three major endocrine hormones were observed, in islets with or without beta-cells. Ultrastructural analysis suggests these cells correspond to degenerating beta-cells, with empty granular membranes and abnormal morphology of nuclei with intranuclear pseudo-inclusions, adjacent to healthy alpha- and delta-cells. These results support a hypothesis that during T1D development in childhood, beta-cells are more susceptible to autoimmune destruction or immune attack is more severe, while beta-cell death in the adult onset T1D may be more protracted and incomplete. In addition, T1D may be associated with the formation of "empty" beta-cells, an interesting population of cells that may represent a key facet to the disorder's pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananta Poudel
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Omid Savari
- Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Deborah A. Striegel
- Laboratory of Biological Modeling, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Vipul Periwal
- Laboratory of Biological Modeling, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jerome Taxy
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, Illinois
| | | | - Piotr Witkowski
- Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Mark A. Atkinson
- Department of Pathology, The University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Manami Hara
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
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6
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Bailey KA, Savic D, Zielinski M, Park SY, Wang LJ, Witkowski P, Brady M, Hara M, Bell GI, Nobrega MA. Evidence of non-pancreatic beta cell-dependent roles of Tcf7l2 in the regulation of glucose metabolism in mice. Hum Mol Genet 2014; 24:1646-54. [PMID: 25398947 PMCID: PMC4381752 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddu577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-coding variation within TCF7L2 remains the strongest genetic determinant of type 2 diabetes risk in humans. A considerable effort has been placed in understanding the functional roles of TCF7L2 in pancreatic beta cells, despite evidence of TCF7L2 expression in various peripheral tissues important in glucose homeostasis. Here, we use a humanized mouse model overexpressing Tcf7l2, resulting in glucose intolerance, to infer the contribution of Tcf7l2 overexpression in beta cells and in other tissues to the metabolic phenotypes displayed by these mice. Restoring Tcf7l2 expression specifically in beta cells to endogenous levels, in face of its overexpression elsewhere, results in impaired insulin secretion, reduced beta cell number and islet area, corroborating data obtained in humans showing similar phenotypes as a result of manipulations leading to Tcf7l2 loss of function. Interestingly, the persistent overexpression of Tcf7l2 in non-pancreatic tissues results in a significant worsening in glucose tolerance in vivo, indicating that Tcf7l2 overexpression in beta cells does not account for the glucose intolerance in the Tcf7l2 overexpression mouse model. Collectively, these data posit that Tcf7l2 plays key roles in glucose metabolism through actions beyond pancreatic beta cells, and further points to functionally opposing cell-type specific effects for Tcf7l2 on the maintenance of balanced glucose metabolism, thereby urging a careful examination of its role in non-pancreatic tissues as well as its composite metabolic effects across distinct tissues. Uncovering these roles may lead to new therapeutic targets for type 2 diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Matthew Brady
- Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | | | - Graeme I Bell
- Department of Human Genetics, Department of Medicine
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Wang X, Misawa R, Zielinski MC, Cowen P, Jo J, Periwal V, Ricordi C, Khan A, Szust J, Shen J, Millis JM, Witkowski P, Hara M. Regional differences in islet distribution in the human pancreas--preferential beta-cell loss in the head region in patients with type 2 diabetes. PLoS One 2013; 8:e67454. [PMID: 23826303 PMCID: PMC3691162 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2013] [Accepted: 05/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
While regional heterogeneity in islet distribution has been well studied in rodents, less is known about human pancreatic histology. To fill gaps in our understanding, regional differences in the adult human pancreas were quantitatively analyzed including the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Cadaveric pancreas specimens were collected from the head, body and tail regions of each donor, including subjects with no history of diabetes or pancreatic diseases (n = 23) as well as patients with T2D (n = 12). The study further included individuals from whom islets were isolated (n = 7) to study islet yield and function in a clinical setting of islet transplantation. The whole pancreatic sections were examined using an innovative large-scale image capture and unbiased detailed quantitative analyses of the characteristics of islets from each individual (architecture, size, shape and distribution). Islet distribution/density is similar between the head and body regions, but is >2-fold higher in the tail region. In contrast to rodents, islet cellular composition and architecture were similar throughout the pancreas and there was no difference in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in islets isolated from different regions of the pancreas. Further studies revealed preferential loss of large islets in the head region in patients with T2D. The present study has demonstrated distinct characteristics of the human pancreas, which should provide a baseline for the future studies integrating existing research in the field and helping to advance bi-directional research between humans and preclinical models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojun Wang
- Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ryosuke Misawa
- Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Mark C. Zielinski
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Peter Cowen
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Junghyo Jo
- Laboratory of Biological Modeling, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Vipul Periwal
- Laboratory of Biological Modeling, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Camillo Ricordi
- Cell Transplant Center, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Aisha Khan
- Cell Transplant Center, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Joel Szust
- Cell Transplant Center, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Junhui Shen
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - J. Michael Millis
- Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Piotr Witkowski
- Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Manami Hara
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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8
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Jo J, Hörnblad A, Kilimnik G, Hara M, Ahlgren U, Periwal V. The fractal spatial distribution of pancreatic islets in three dimensions: a self-avoiding growth model. Phys Biol 2013; 10:036009. [PMID: 23629025 DOI: 10.1088/1478-3975/10/3/036009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The islets of Langerhans, responsible for controlling blood glucose levels, are dispersed within the pancreas. A universal power law governing the fractal spatial distribution of islets in two-dimensional pancreatic sections has been reported. However, the fractal geometry in the actual three-dimensional pancreas volume, and the developmental process that gives rise to such a self-similar structure, has not been investigated. Here, we examined the three-dimensional spatial distribution of islets in intact mouse pancreata using optical projection tomography and found a power law with a fractal dimension of 2.1. Furthermore, based on two-dimensional pancreatic sections of human autopsies, we found that the distribution of human islets also follows a universal power law with a fractal dimension of 1.5 in adult pancreata, which agrees with the value previously reported in smaller mammalian pancreas sections. Finally, we developed a self-avoiding growth model for the development of the islet distribution and found that the fractal nature of the spatial islet distribution may be associated with the self-avoidance in the branching process of vascularization in the pancreas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junghyo Jo
- Laboratory of Biological Modeling, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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9
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Wang X, Zielinski MC, Misawa R, Wen P, Wang TY, Wang CZ, Witkowski P, Hara M. Quantitative analysis of pancreatic polypeptide cell distribution in the human pancreas. PLoS One 2013; 8:e55501. [PMID: 23383206 PMCID: PMC3561199 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2012] [Accepted: 12/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The pancreatic islet is mainly composed of beta-, alpha- and delta-cells with small numbers of pancreatic polypeptide (PP) and epsilon cells. It is known that there is a region in the head of the pancreas that is rich in PP-cells. In the present study, we examined the distribution of PP-cells, and assessed the influence of the PP-cell rich region to quantify the total islet mass. Pancreatic tissues were collected from donors with no history of diabetes or pancreatic diseases (n = 12). A stereological approach with a computer-assisted large-scale analysis of whole pancreatic sections was applied to quantify the entire distribution of endocrine cells within a given section. The initial whole pancreas analysis showed that a PP-cell rich region was largely restricted to the uncinate process with a clear boundary. The distinct distribution of PP-cells includes irregularly shaped clusters composed solely of PP-cells. Furthermore, in the PP-cell rich region, beta- and alpha-cell mass is significantly reduced compared to surrounding PP-cell poor regions. The results suggest that the analysis of the head region should distinguish the PP-cell rich region, which is best examined separately. This study presents an important implication for the regional selection and interpretation of the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojun Wang
- Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Mark C. Zielinski
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Ryosuke Misawa
- Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Patrick Wen
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Tian-Yuan Wang
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Cheng-Zhang Wang
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Piotr Witkowski
- Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Manami Hara
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Human islets exhibit distinct islet architecture particularly in large islets that comprise of a relatively abundant fraction of α-cells intermingled with β-cells, whereas mouse islets show largely similar architecture of a β-cell core with α-cells in the periphery. In humans, islet architecture is islet-size dependent. Changes in endocrine cell mass preferentially occurred in large islets as demonstrated in our recent study on pathological changes of the pancreas in patients with type 2 diabetes. ( 1) The size dependency of human islets in morphological changes prompted us to develop a method to capture the representative islet distribution in the whole pancreas section combined with a semi-automated analysis to quantify changes in islet architecture. The computer-assisted quantification allows detailed examination of endocrine cell composition in individual islets and minimizes sampling bias. The standard immunohistochemistry based method is widely applicable to various specimens, which is particularly useful for large animal studies but is also applied to a large-scale analysis of the whole organ section from mice. In this article, we describe the method of image capture, parameters measured, data analysis and interpretation of the data.
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Affiliation(s)
- German Kilimnik
- Department of Medicine; The University of Chicago; Chicago, IL USA
| | - Junghyo Jo
- Laboratory of Biological Modeling; National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Vipul Periwal
- Laboratory of Biological Modeling; National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, MD USA
| | | | - Manami Hara
- Department of Medicine; The University of Chicago; Chicago, IL USA
- Correspondence to: Manami Hara;
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Kilimnik G, Zhao B, Jo J, Periwal V, Witkowski P, Misawa R, Hara M. Altered islet composition and disproportionate loss of large islets in patients with type 2 diabetes. PLoS One 2011; 6:e27445. [PMID: 22102895 PMCID: PMC3216964 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0027445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2011] [Accepted: 10/17/2011] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Human islets exhibit distinct islet architecture with intermingled alpha- and beta-cells particularly in large islets. In this study, we quantitatively examined pathological changes of the pancreas in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Specifically, we tested a hypothesis that changes in endocrine cell mass and composition are islet-size dependent. A large-scale analysis of cadaveric pancreatic sections from T2D patients (n = 12) and non-diabetic subjects (n = 14) was carried out combined with semi-automated analysis to quantify changes in islet architecture. The method provided the representative islet distribution in the whole pancreas section that allowed us to examine details of endocrine cell composition in individual islets. We observed a preferential loss of large islets (>60 µm in diameter) in T2D patients compared to non-diabetic subjects. Analysis of islet cell composition revealed that the beta-cell fraction in large islets was decreased in T2D patients. This change was accompanied by a reciprocal increase in alpha-cell fraction, however total alpha-cell area was decreased along with beta-cells in T2D. Delta-cell fraction and area remained unchanged. The computer-assisted quantification of morphological changes in islet structure minimizes sampling bias. Significant beta-cell loss was observed in large islets in T2D, in which alpha-cell ratio reciprocally increased. However, there was no alpha-cell expansion and the total alpha-cell area was also decreased. Changes in islet architecture were marked in large islets. Our method is widely applicable to various specimens using standard immunohistochemical analysis that may be particularly useful to study large animals including humans where large organ size precludes manual quantitation of organ morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- German Kilimnik
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Billy Zhao
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Junghyo Jo
- Laboratory of Biological Modeling, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Vipul Periwal
- Laboratory of Biological Modeling, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Piotr Witkowski
- Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Ryosuke Misawa
- Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Manami Hara
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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12
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Improving islet engraftment by gene therapy. J Transplant 2011; 2011:594851. [PMID: 22132301 PMCID: PMC3202131 DOI: 10.1155/2011/594851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2011] [Accepted: 08/22/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Islet cell transplantation is currently the only feasible long-term treatment option for patients with type 1 diabetes. However, the majority of transplanted islets experience damage and apoptosis during the isolation process, a blood-mediated inflammatory microenvironment in the portal vein upon islet infusion, hypoxia induced by the low oxygenated milieu, and poor-revascularization-mediated lack of nutrients, and impaired hormone modulation in the local transplanted site. Strategies using genetic modification methods through overexpression or silencing of those proteins involved in promoting new formation of blood vessels or inhibition of apoptosis may overcome these hurdles and improve islet engraftment outcomes.
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