Delivery of shRNA via lentivirus in human pseudoislets provides a model to test dynamic regulation of insulin secretion and gene function in human islets

• Published in: Physiological reports 2018-10, Vol.6 (20), p.e13907-n/a
• Main Authors: Harata, Mikako, Liu, Siming, Promes, Joseph A., Burand, Anthony J., Ankrum, James A., Imai, Yumi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Beta cell; Cells, Cultured; Cytokines - genetics; Cytokines - metabolism; diabetes; extracellular matrix; Extracellular Matrix Proteins - genetics; Extracellular Matrix Proteins - metabolism; Female; Gene Transfer Techniques; glucokinase; Glucokinase - genetics; Glucokinase - metabolism; Humans; inflammation; Insulin Secretion; Insulin-Secreting Cells - metabolism; Lentivirus - genetics; Male; Middle Aged; Original Research; RNA, Small Interfering - genetics; RNA, Small Interfering - metabolism
• ISSN: 2051-817X
• DOI: 10.14814/phy2.13907

s Rodent islets are widely used to study the pathophysiology of beta cells and islet function, however, structural and functional differences exist between human and rodent islets, highlighting the need for human islet studies. Human islets are highly variable, deteriorate during culture, and are difficult to genetically modify, making mechanistic studies difficult to conduct and reproduce. To overcome these limitations, we tested whether pseudoislets, created by dissociation and reaggregation of islet cell suspensions, allow for assessment of dynamic islet function after genetic modulation. Characterization of pseudoislets cultured for 1 week revealed better preservation of first‐phase glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) compared with cultured‐intact islets and insulin secretion profiles similar to fresh islets when challenged by glibenclamide and KCl. qPCR indicated that pseudoislets are similar to the original islets for the expression of markers for cell types, beta cell function, and cellular stress with the exception of reduced proinflammatory cytokine genes (IL1B, CCL2, CXCL8). The expression of extracellular matrix markers (ASPN, COL1A1, COL4A1) was also altered in pseudoislets compared with intact islets. Compared with intact islets transduced by adenovirus, pseudoislets transduced by lentivirus showed uniform transduction and better first‐phase GSIS. Lastly, the lentiviral‐mediated delivery of short hairpin RNA targeting glucokinase (GCK) achieved significant reduction of GCK expression in pseudoislets as well as marked reduction of both first and second phase GSIS without affecting the insulin secretion in response to KCl. Thus, pseudoislets are a tool that enables efficient genetic modulation of human islet cells while preserving insulin secretion. Glucokinase was downregulated in human pseudoislets using lentiviral shRNA. Perfusion shows the loss of glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion while KCl response is preserved.