Optimal size control of pancreatic islet cell clusters using concave-bottomed microwells

초록

Pancreatic islet transplantation has been used to treat diabetes mellitus. After islet isolation, the size of the islets varies widely, which means that their viability and functionality are different. Islets with a small diameter are superior to islets with a large diameter with regard to in vitro insulin secretion and viability at both normoxic and hypoxic culture conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to control the size of the isolated islets for enhancing their viability and function. In order to do so we developed a new method to control the islet size and to obtain a homogeneous distribution using concave-bottomed microwells with diameters ranging from 300 to 700 μm. After islet isolation (diameter 80–300 μm) from SD-rats, they were dissociated to islet single cells. Then, 2 weeks of culture after seeding of islet single cells into concave-bottomed microwells, islet cell clusters (ICC) with different sizes were formed. The viability and functionality of ICC with a small size was better than that with a large size. Therefore, this newly developed culture system can be useful for therapy of diabetes mellitus.