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Kristian Pietras

Kristian Pietras

Research team manager

Kristian Pietras

Recruited fibroblasts reconstitute the peri-islet membrane : a longitudinal imaging study of human islet grafting and revascularisation

Author

  • Julia Nilsson
  • Rabiah Fardoos
  • Lisbeth Hansen
  • Håkan Lövkvist
  • Kristian Pietras
  • Dan Holmberg
  • Anja Schmidt-Christensen

Summary, in English

Aims/hypothesis: Rapid and adequate islet revascularisation and restoration of the islet–extracellular matrix (ECM) interaction are significant factors influencing islet survival and function of the transplanted islets in individuals with type 1 diabetes. Because the ECM encapsulating the islets is degraded during islet isolation, understanding the process of revascularisation and engraftment after transplantation is essential and needs further investigation. Methods: Here we apply a longitudinal and high-resolution imaging approach to investigate the dynamics of the pancreatic islet engraftment process up to 11 months after transplantation. Human and mouse islet grafts were inserted into the anterior chamber of the mouse eye, using a NOD.ROSA-tomato.Rag2−/− or B6.ROSA-tomato host allowing the investigation of the expansion of host vs donor cells and the contribution of host cells to aspects such as promoting the encapsulation and vascularisation of the graft. Results: A fibroblast-like stromal cell population of host origin rapidly migrates to ensheath the transplanted islet and aid in the formation of a basement membrane-like structure. Moreover, we show that the vessel network, while reconstituted by host endothelial cells, still retains the overall architecture of the donor islets. Conclusions/interpretation: In this transplantation situation the fibroblast-like stromal cells appear to take over as main producers of ECM or act as a scaffold for other ECM-producing cells to reconstitute a peri-islet-like basement membrane. This may have implications for our understanding of long-term graft rejection and for the design of novel strategies to interfere with this process.

Department/s

  • Autoimmunity
  • EXODIAB: Excellence of Diabetes Research in Sweden
  • Clinical Stroke Research Group
  • Experimental oncology

Publishing year

2020

Language

English

Pages

137-148

Publication/Series

Diabetologia

Volume

63

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Springer

Topic

  • Endocrinology and Diabetes

Keywords

  • Anterior eye chamber
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Extracellular matrix
  • Fibroblast
  • Human islet
  • Islet transplantation
  • Longitudinal imaging
  • Peri-islet membrane
  • Post-transplantation period
  • Vascularisation

Status

Published

Research group

  • LUDC (Lund University Diabetes Centre)
  • Autoimmunity
  • Clinical Stroke Research Group
  • Experimental oncology

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0012-186X