Subcutaneous transplantation of human thyroid tissue into a pre-vascularized Cell Pouch™ device in a Mus musculus model: Evidence of viability and function for thyroid transplantation

Sam M Wiseman; Arash Memarnejadian; Guilaine K Boyce; Anne Nguyen; Blair A Walker; Daniel T Holmes; Ian D Welch; Delfina M Mazzuca; Philip M Toleikis

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0262345

Subcutaneous transplantation of human thyroid tissue into a pre-vascularized Cell Pouch™ device in a Mus musculus model: Evidence of viability and function for thyroid transplantation

PLoS One. 2022 Jan 20;17(1):e0262345. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262345. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgery, St. Paul's Hospital & University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
² Sernova Corporation, London, Ontario, Canada.
³ Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁴ Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the survival and efficacy indicators of human thyroid tissue transplantation into a retrievable, prevascularized implanted Sernova Corp Cell Pouch™ (CP) device. Thyroid tissue from human donors was transplanted subcutaneously into the pre-implanted CP device or into the subcutaneous (SC) space alone as a control in a nude Mus musculus model. Transplanted M. musculus were monitored for human serum thyroglobulin (TG) levels for 3 months until the transplants were removed for histological assessment. Human thyroid tissue survived and continued to produce TG in transplanted nude M. musculus in the CP, with no adverse events. CP transplants exhibited more persistent and robust production of human TG than tissue placed in the SC space alone from 3 to 13 weeks post transplantation. Fresh thyroid transplants had better survival and function compared to cryopreserved transplants. Thyroid transplant viability correlated with TG levels at 3 months post-transplant (p = 0.03). Immunofluorescence staining of transplants for TG and TPO localized in thyroid follicles. Human thyroid tissue transplanted into the subcutaneously implanted pre-vascularized CP in nude M. musculus survived and continued to produce robust and persistent human TG and warrants further investigation as a treatment for postoperative hypothyroidism.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Graft Survival / physiology*
Humans
Mice
Mice, Nude
Organ Transplantation / methods*
Thyroid Gland / transplantation*
Transplantation, Heterologous

Grants and funding

SMW has received funding from the BC Transplant Research Foundation (http://www.transplant.bc.ca/). The BC Transplant Research Foundation did not play a role in in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Materials and expertise were received from Sernova Corp. Employees and/or affliates of Sernova are co-authors of this manuscript. These co-authors all had a role in each aspect of in the study design, decision to publish, and preparation of the manuscript.