Human Albumin Preserves Islet Mass and Function Better Than Whole Serum During Pretransplantation Islet Culture

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings 2008-03, Vol.40 (2), p.384-386
• Main Authors: Lee, R.H, Carter, J, Szot, G.L, Posselt, A, Stock, P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cadaver; Cell Count; Cell Culture Techniques - methods; Culture Media; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Humans; Islets of Langerhans - cytology; Islets of Langerhans - drug effects; Islets of Langerhans - physiology; Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; Medical sciences; Serum; Serum Albumin - therapeutic use; Surgery; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Tissue Donors; Tissue, organ and graft immunology
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2008.02.016

Abstract Objective Human islet transplant protocols frequently include a brief period of islet culture before transplantation. Some investigators have suggested that medium supplementation with human serum might quench collagenase activity and provide better culture conditions when compared with human albumin. We studied the effect of whole serum on islet count, islet equivalence, insulin secretion, and DNA content in human islets. Methods Adult human islets isolated from a single pancreas with purity >50% were cultured in identical 150 islet equivalent samples at 37°C using CMRL 1066–based islet medium (Mediatech) supplemented with either 0.5% human albumin or 10% human AB serum. Prior to culture and after 3 days, islets were assessed in vitro using dithizone staining (n = 4), insulin release after static glucose stimulation (n = 8), and DNA content (n = 8). Results After 3 days, islet mass (defined by the number of islets and islet equivalents counted after dithizone staining) was better preserved in islets cultured in 0.5% human albumin. Although the stimulation index and total DNA content were similar between groups, islets cultured in human albumin demonstrated greater absolute insulin secretion ( p = .02) and insulin secretion per cell ( p = .02). Conclusions When used to supplement CMRL 1066–based islet culture medium, human albumin preserves islet mass and secretory capacity better than whole human serum. Human serum offers no advantage in islet preservation or function.