Maintenance of mouse, rat, and pig pancreatic islet functions by coculture with human islet-derived fibroblasts

Cell Transplant. 2006;15(4):325-34.

Abstract

Development of an efficient preculture system of islets is ideal. Toward that goal, we constructed a human pancreatic islet-derived fibroblast cell line MNNK-1 for a source as a coculture system for freshly isolated islets to maintain islet functions. Human pancreatic islet cells were nucleofected with a plasmid vector pYK-1 expressing simian virus 40 large T antigen gene (SV40T) and hygromycin resistance gene (HygroR). One of the transduced cell lines, MNNK-1, was established and served as a feeder cell in the coculture for freshly isolated mouse, rat, and pig islets. Morphology, viability, and glucose-responding insulin secretion were analyzed in the coculture system. MNNK-1 cells were morphologically spindle shaped and were negative for pancreatic endocrine markers. MNNK-1 cells were positive for alpha-smooth muscle actin and collagen type I and produced fibroblast growth factor. Coculture of the mouse, rat, and pig islets with MNNK-1 cells maintained their viability and insulin secretion with glucose responsiveness. A human pancreatic islet-derived fibroblast cell line MNNK-1 was established. MNNK-1 cells were a useful means for maintaining morphology and insulin secretion of islets in the coculture system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Transformed
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Coculture Techniques / methods
  • Collagen Type I / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / cytology*
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / physiology
  • Ganciclovir / pharmacology
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Islets of Langerhans / cytology
  • Islets of Langerhans / metabolism
  • Islets of Langerhans / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Rats
  • Swine
  • Tissue Survival / physiology

Substances

  • Actins
  • Collagen Type I
  • Insulin
  • Glucose
  • Ganciclovir