Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Langerhans islet'

El trasplante de islotes ha sido reconocido como una prometedora opción de tratamiento de la diabetes tipo 1 (DT1) tras la introducción del protocolo de Edmonton, el cual enfatiza el requerimiento de un adecuado número de islotes donantes así como el uso de regímenes de inmunosupresores libres de esteroides. Además es un procedimiento quirúrgico menos invasivo y que conlleva menos complicaciones comparado con el trasplante de páncreas. A pesar de los importantes avances establecidos por el protocolo de Edmonton, el uso clínico del trasplante de islotes para el tratamiento de pacientes DT1 continúa siendo limitado, debido en gran parte a los retos post-trasplante. Tras el trasplante, los islotes son separados de su red vascular nativa, por lo que la funcionalidad y supervivencia del injerto dependerá del restablecimiento de nuevos vasos en el injerto para derivar el flujo sanguíneo al sistema vascular del huésped. Sin embargo, los estudios han demostrado que el grado de revascularización de los islotes trasplantados es considerablemente menor que el de la microvasculatura nativa de los islotes pancreáticos, incluso a los 9 meses del injerto . Ésta retrasada y insuficiente revascularización priva los nuevos islotes injertados de oxígeno y nutrientes, pudiendo provocar su muerte celular y el fallo temprano del injerto. En el estudio realizado, identificamos, por primera vez, la proteína tirosina fosfatasa 1B (PTP-1B) como una diana terapéutica, capaz de mejorar la revascularización de los injerto pancreáticos sin comprometer la masa ß-celular del injerto y la principal mediadora de la acción del tratamiento del tungstato sódico en la revascularización de islotes. Además hemos identificado el mecanismo por lo cual la PTP-1B induce la revascularización. Nuestros datos apuntan que en la ausencia de PTP-1B, los islotes pancreáticos expresan y secretan el factor de crecimiento del endotelio vascular A (VEGFA), una citoquina pro-angiogénica, mediante la activación de la PGC1 alpha y ERR-alpha de forma independiente de hipoxia. Finalmente hemos comprobado que éste mecanismo de inducción de VEGFA se conserva en islotes humanos. De ésta forma concluimos que PTP-1B es una diana prometedora en el desarrollo de nuevas terapias para la mejora de la revascularización de injertos de islotes.
Islet transplantation is considered a potentially curative treatment for type 1 diabetes, Despite the key important advances achieved by the establishment of the Edmonton protocol, islet transplantation remains clinically limited due to several challenges, which lead to massive islet loss or failure of the grafts. Therefore searching for new targets to facilitate islet revascularization may lead to improved future results in cell transplantation.Islets native architecture is characterized by a dense vessel network that, delivers oxygen, hormones, glucose, and nutrients to islet’s cells allowing them to function correctly. After transplantation, the survival and function of islet grafts must depend on the reestablishment of new vessels within the grafts to derive blood flow from the host vascular system. This vascular network is severed when islets are isolated for transplantation, and even though islets freely revascularize, they do not reach the levels of vascularization present in endogenous pancreatic islets, which results in the impairment of grafts function and survival. Altogether, the lack of a proper vascular network account as the primary responsible for early graft loss. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying islet revascularization remain elusive, a number of factors have been implicated, such as the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), a key angiogenic molecule that acts to stimulate new vessel formation. VEGFA expression in transplanted islets is significantly impaired, which is further pronounced in prevailing hyperglycemia, and coincides with delayed and insufficient islet revascularization in diabetic mice In this thesis we identify for the first time, tyrosine phosphatase PTP-1B as a target for improving graft revascularization. We targeted PTP-1B, either by its inhibition, following a sodium tungstate treatment after transplantation, or by transplanting islets lacking PTP-1B, using a genetic model of PTP-1B knock-out, or following genetic silencing, using siRNA and shRNA Lentivirus particles. Following transplantation into the anterior chamber of the eye in diabetic mice, islet-grafts showed increased revascularization by inducing the expression of VEGF-A by ß-cells in the graft. This improved revascularization was followed by an improvement of islet-graft survival and function, as transplanted mice recovered normoglycemia and glucose tolerance. Furthermore, we demonstrated that PTP-1B induces VEGF-A expression and secretion in islets by upregulating HIF1A-independent PGC1α/ERRα signaling. Finally, we demonstrated that this regulatory mechanism is conserved in human islets. Together, these findings unravel the potential role of PTP-1B as a target for improving islet transplantation outcomes.

Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Amelioration of T1D and the prevention of its detrimental complications are possible through islet transplantation, wherein hormone-producing clusters of cells, islets of Langerhans (islets), are separated from the pancreas and transplanted into a diabetic patient. However, alterations due to the effects of organ recovery, cold ischemia time (CIT), and islet isolation may increase the inflammatory and immunogenic properties of these islets, thereby predisposing them to functional impairment and rejection in a transplant. Understanding the inflammatory properties of islets will allow for the development of strategies that decrease early islet loss and effectively enhance engraftment and long-term function. Therefore, the aims of this study were to 1) identify and characterize populations of antigen presenting cells (APC) and other immune cells in nonhuman primate (NHP) islets in situ and after isolation; and 2) characterize the expression and functional role of CD40 and the IFN alpha receptor in NHP islets, including their effects on islet immunogenicity. A surprising result of these studies was that half of the APC present in isolated NHP islets were B lymphocytes. We observed that the number of islet-resident immune cells increased with islet size, and described the localization pattern of these cells within islets. We characterized CD40 expression in NHP islets, demonstrating that multiple CD40 isoforms are expressed, and made the novel finding that functional CD40 is expressed on the somatostatin-producing δ cells. When CD40 was stimulated with its ligand, it induced downstream signaling changes, increased proinflammatory cytokine release, and increased islet immunogenicity. Based on our results, we have hypothesized a model of CD40 signaling in islet δ cells. Microarray analysis revealed expression changes in many inflammatory molecules integral to inflammation, the immune response, and apoptosis in islets that had endured increased CIT, demonstrating the unfavorable conditions created within islets following organ recovery, CIT, and islet isolation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the IFN alpha receptor is present on isolated NHP islets, and that stimulation with IFN alpha leads to increased proinflammatory cytokine release, surface receptor upregulation, and a decrease in immunogenicity. In summary, in NHP islets we have defined the type and quantity of immune cells, the inflammatory molecules expressed, including CD40 and the IFN alpha receptor, and their downstream functional roles in an immune response.

During the past decade clinical islet transplantation has become a viable strategy for curing type 1 diabetes. The limited supply of organs, together with the requirement for islets from multiple donors to achieve insulin independence, has greatly limited the application of this approach.

The islets are infused into the liver via the portal vein, and once exposed to the blood, the grafted tissue has been shown to be damaged by the instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction (IBMIR), which is characterized by coagulation and complement activation as well as leukocyte infiltration into the islets. Islet revascularization is a subsequent critical step for the long-term function of the transplanted graft, which may partially be impeded by the IBMIR.

In this thesis, we have explored novel strategies for circumventing the effects of the IBMIR and facilitating islet revascularization.

Systemic inhibitors of the IBMIR are typically associated with an increased risk of bleeding. We therefore evaluated alternative strategies for modulating the islets prior to transplantation. We demonstrated, using an adenoviral vector, that a high level of expression and secretion of the anticoagulant hirudin could be induced in human islets. An alternative approach to limiting the IBMIR was developed in which anticoagulant macromolecular heparin complexes were conjugated to the islet surface. This technique proved effective in limiting the IBMIR in both an in vitro blood loop model and an allogeneic porcine model of islet transplantation. An increased adhesion of endothelial cells to the heparin-coated islet surface was demonstrated, as was the capacity of the heparin conjugate to bind the angiogenic factors VEGF and FGF; these results have important implications for the revascularization process.

The outcome of the work in this thesis suggests that modulation of the islet surface is an attractive alternative to systemic therapy as a strategy for preventing the IBMIR. Moreover, the same techniques can be employed to induce revascularization and improve the engraftment of the transplanted islets. Ultimately, improved islet viability and engraftment will make islet transplantation a more effective procedure and increase the number of patients whose diabetes can be cured.

This thesis focuses on enteroviral effects on human pancreatic islets. Most knowledge of viral effects on host cells relies on studies of immortalized cell lines or animal models. The islets represent a fundamentally different and less well studied cellular host. Also, enterovirus has been implicated in the etiology of type 1 diabetes (T1D). We show that when enterovirus replicates in human islets it activates innate immunity genes and induces secretion of the chemokines MCP-1 and IP-10. An important difference in activation of innate immunity by replicating EV and synthetic dsRNA is suggested, since the chemokine secretion induced by EV infection but not by dsRNA is reduced by female sex hormone. We also demonstrate a direct antiviral effect of nicotinamide, and even though this substance failed to prevent T1D in a large-scale study, this finding could have implications for the treatment/prevention of virus- and/or immune-mediated disease. We also had access to human pancreata from two organ donors with recent onset T1D and several donors with T1D-related autoantibodies, which gave us the opportunity to study ongoing pathogenic processes at and before the onset of T1D. Despite this, we could neither confirm nor reject the hypothesis that EV is involved in T1D development. Several observations, such as ultrastructural remodeling of the beta cell, activation of innate immunity, and immunopositivity to EV capsid protein 1, supported an ongoing virus infection, but direct evidence is still lacking. An interesting finding in the donors with recent onset T1D was that the islets were positively stained for insulin, but did not secrete insulin in response to glucose-stimulation. A similar effect was observed in EV-infected islets in vitro; EV destroyed islet function and insulin gene expression, but the islets still stained positive for insulin. This may be indicative of that a functional block in addition to beta cell destruction is involved in T1D pathogenesis. In conclusion, these studies of EV in isolated human islets in vitro support that this virus can cause T1D in vivo, but future studies will have to show if and how frequently this happens.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2006.
Shuker, Suzanne, Committee Chair ; Doyle, Donald, Committee Member ; Orville, Allen, Committee Member ; Barry, Bridgette, Committee Member ; McCarty, Nael, Committee Member.

Islet of Langerhans cells are readily destroyed once transplanted to a Type 1 diabetic despite being ABO compatible. The complement system and the coagulation cascade play a role in this destruction.

My project involves investigation of blood group antigens expressed on both paraffin embedded islets using immunohistochemistry techniques and on fresh human and pig islets using the Complex Object Parametric Analyser and Sorter (COPAS) and the confocal microscope. Optimisation of various immunohistochemistry methods allowed ABO, endothelial cells and collagen staining patterns to be visualised. Fresh islets were analysed in the same manner using FITC conjugated antibodies and COPAS analysis. Islets were also incubated with autologous, compatible and incompatible plasma to assess if there was a difference in blood group, IgG, IgM and C3c binding.

Conclusions drawn seem to suggest that the islets used for transplantation are contaminated with exocrine parts rich in ABO and collagen antigens and that binding of complement factors rise when islets are incubated in compatible plasma as well as incompatible plasma.

Type 1 and 2 Diabetes Mellitus are a growing health problem throughout the world. There is an increasing  need for methodologies, which are both reliable and non-invasive to measure the amount of insulin-producing tissue (Beta-cell mass, or BCM), as well as rapidly quantify changes in the BCM due to the onset of disease, beta-cell replacement therapy, or other treatments. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a non-invasive, quantitative functional imaging technique which can be used to study dynamical or static processes inside the body. In this thesis, we present a study protocol for in vivo imaging of the most common form of beta- cell replacement therapy; islet transplantation. Islets were labeled with the PET tracer, 2-deoxy-2[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]FDG), and administered intra-portally, while the recipient was monitored by PET/CT. The hepatic distribution of the islets was highly heterogeneous, and around 25% (human) or 50% (porcine) of the administered islets could not be found in the liver after completed transplantation, confirming previous reports of considerable cell injury during the procedure leading to low hepatic engraftment. Native BCM in the pancreas can potentially be quantified using a PET tracer with sufficiently high specificity, but the major obstacle is the relative low amounts of insulin producing tissue (only 1-2% of the pancreatic volume). Two tetrabenazine analogues, [18F]FE-(+)-DTBZ and [18F]FE-(+)-DTBZ-d4, are ligands to VMAT2, which is expressed in islet tissue. Both analogues were investigated and characterized as potential BCM imaging agents both in vitro and in vivo.  Both tracers exhibited high preferential binding to islet tissue compared to exocrine pancreatic tissue. However, the specificity was not high enough to overcome the obscuring exocrine signal in vivo (7-10% of the signal originating from specific islet tracer uptake). This thesis demonstrates that it is possible to quantitatively assess islet transplantation by PET imaging. In vivo determination of native pancreatic BCM is, in theory, possible with both [18F]FE-(+)-DTBZ and [18F]FE-(+)-DTBZ-d4, but tracer analogues with higher islet specificity is needed for quantification of smaller BCM changes with physiological impact.

Transplantation of insulin producing cells is currently the only cure for type 1 diabetes. However, even though the Edmonton protocol markedly increased the success rate of pancreatic islet transplantation, the long term insulin independence is still very poor. An adequate engraftment is critical for islet graft survival and function. In the present thesis, isolated islet endothelial cells were found to have a low proliferatory and migratory capacity towards vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), but this could be reversed by using neutralizing antibodies to the angiostatic factors thrombospondin-1, endostatin or alpha1-antitrypsin. In the adult islet endothelial cell, VEGF may act as a permeability inducer more than an inducer of angiogenesis. p38 MAP kinase activity has been shown to serve as a switch between these properties of VEGF. Inhibition of p38 MAP kinase by daily injections of SB203580 in the early posttransplantation phase lead to a redistribution of the islet graft blood vessels from the stroma into the endocrine tissue and this was accompanied by a higher oxygen tension. Besides transports of oxygen and nutrients, beta-cells may require signals from the endothelial cells for their growth and differentiation. It was demonstrated that islet endothelial cells secrete factors, including laminin, that have positive effects on beta-cell insulin release and insulin content. Our results suggest that improved revascularization of transplanted islets may be achieved by either inhibition of angiostatic factors, or by blocking p38 MAPkinase activity, in the implanted tissue. Islet endothelial cells have a supportive paracrine role for beta-cells that might be hampered by the normally poor revascularization.

Complications in pregnancy elevate fetal norepinephrine (NE) concentrations. Previous studies in NE-infused sheep fetuses revealed that sustained exposure to high NE resulted in lower expression of α2-adrenergic receptors in islets and increased insulin secretion responsiveness after acutely terminating the NE infusion. In this study, we determined if the compensatory increase in insulin secretion after chronic elevation of NE is independent of hyperglycemia in sheep fetuses and whether it is persistent in conjunction with islet desensitization to NE. After an initial assessment of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) at 129 ± 1 days of gestation, fetuses were continuously infused for seven days with NE and maintained at euglycemia with a maternal insulin infusion. Fetal GSIS studies were performed again on days 8 and 12. Adrenergic sensitivity was determined in pancreatic islets collected at day 12. NE infusion increased (P < 0.01) fetal plasma NE concentrations and lowered (P < 0.01) basal insulin concentrations compared to vehicle-infused controls. GSIS was 1.8-fold greater (P < 0.05) in NE-infused fetuses compared to controls at both one and five days after discontinuing the infusion. Glucose-potentiated arginine-induced insulin secretion was also enhanced (P < 0.01) in NE-infused fetuses. Maximum GSIS in islets isolated from NE-infused fetuses was 1.6-fold greater (P < 0.05) than controls, but islet insulin content and intracellular calcium signaling were not different between treatments. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration for NE was 2.6-fold greater (P < 0.05) in NE-infused islets compared to controls. These findings show that chronic NE exposure and not hyperglycemia produce persistent adaptations in pancreatic islets that augment β-cell responsiveness in part through decreased adrenergic sensitivity.

Thesis (Ph.D. in Molecular Biology) -- University of Colorado Denver, 2007.
Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 162-196). Free to UCD affiliates. Online version available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations;

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-10-31Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:49:47Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 destro_m_me_botib.pdf: 1170172 bytes, checksum: dde49d0cf6d568f068e97098c9cdebe7 (MD5)
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)
O aumento da secreção de insulina estimulada por glicose é um mecanismo adaptativo observado nas ilhotas pancreáticas de animais resistentes à insulina. Estudos relatam que os ácidos graxos livres estimulam a secreção de insulina através da ativação do GPR40. Diante destes fatos, investigamos a secreção de insulina, a expressão de proteínas da via do GPR40 nas células ß e a participação dos lipídios na resistência à insulina induzida por dexametasona, através do tratamento com o redutor de lipídios bezafibrato. Os grupos receberam gavagem uma vez ao dia durante 28 dias: Controle (CTL) e DEXA com goma arábica 5% (1 ml/kg, peso corpóreo); BEZA e BEZA-DEXA com bezafibrato (300 mg/kg, p.c.). Nos últimos 5 dias de tratamento os grupos receberam injeções intraperitoniais: CTL e BEZA de solução salina (1 ml/kg, p.c.); DEXA e BEZA-DEXA de dexametasona (Decadron® 1,0 mg/kg, p.c). A secreção de insulina estimulada por glicose aumentou nos grupos BEZA e DEXA. BEZA-DEXA exibiu diminuição dos níveis de ácidos graxos livres, triglicérides e de insulina, mas não houve elevação dos níveis de glicose no sangue. Além disso, houve melhora na resistência à insulina e restauração do padrão de secreção de insulina, em comparação ao grupo DEXA. Nas ilhotas dos animais BEZA-DEXA a expressão das proteínas GPR40, PLCß1 e PKCδ foi significativamente maior em relação aos valores obtidos em DEXA. Esta via permaneceu inalterada nas ilhotas de DEXA e BEZA. Em conclusão, o tratamento com bezafibrato melhorou a função das células ß e impediu a indução de resistência à insulina pelo tratamento com dexametasona, mas os mecanismos não são conhecidos. O aumento na secreção de insulina em DEXA aparentemente não está relacionado com a ativação do GPR40. Contrariando a literatura, apesar da redução na secreção de insulina, as ilhotas dos animais BEZA-DEXA apresentaram ativação da via do GPR40
Increased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion is an adaptive mechanism exhibited by pancreatic islets from insulin resistant animal. Studies report that the free fatty acids stimulate the insulin secretion via GPR40. As such, we investigate the expression of GPR40 in ß-cells and the involvement of lipids in dexamethasone-induced IR, by lipid-lowering therapy with bezafibrate. Groups received once daily gavage for 28 days: Control (CTL) and DEXA with gum Arabic 5% (1.0 mg/kg, body weight); BEZA and BEZA-DEXA with bezafibrate (300 mg/kg, b.w.). In the last 5 days of the treatment groups received intraperitoneal injections: CTL and BEZA of saline (1.0 mg/kg, b.w.); DEXA and BEZA-DEXA of dexamethasone (Decadron® 1.0 mg/kg, b.w.). The glucose-stimulated insulin secretion increased in the DEXA and BEZA groups. BEZA-DEXA shows decrease in fatty acids, triglycerides and insulin levels, but not raised blood glucose levels. In addition, there was improved in insulin resistance and restoration the insulin secretory pattern, when compared to DEXA group. In BEZA-DEXA islets, GPR40, PLCß1 and PKCδ protein content was significantly higher than DEXA. This pathway remained unchanged in DEXA and BEZA islets. In conclusion, bezafibrate treatment improved ß-cell function and prevented dexamethasone-induced IR, but the mechanisms are not known. Augmented insulin secretion in DEXA appears to be unrelated to the activation of the GPR40. Contrary to the literature, despite the reduction in insulin secretion, BEZA-DEXA islets showed activation of the GPR40 pathway

The blood vessels of the pancreatic islets are of crucial importance for oxygen and metabolite supply as well as dispersal of secreted hormones. In addition to this, endothelial cells have an important role in the revascularization process after islet transplantation. Previous studies have reported signs of poor engraftment of transplanted islets, presumably due to impaired revascularization. The aims of this thesis were to investigate the revascularization process of transplanted islets and to examine the role of islet endothelial cells. In this context, the lectin Bandeiraea simplicifolia was found to stain endothelium of both endogenous and transplanted pancreatic islets. By using this lectin we investigated the vascular density of both endogenous and islets transplanted syngeneically beneath the renal capsule, into the spleen or intraportally into the liver of normoglycemic C57BL/6 mice. One month post-transplantation, a time point when the grafts are assumed to be completely revascularized, the vascular density was decreased at all three implantation sites when compared to endogenous islets. Furthermore, most of the blood vessels were located in the graft connective tissue stroma. Similar results were obtained when islet transplant vascular density was determined six months post-transplantation and in cured diabetic animals after one month. In order to evaluate the function of intraportally transplanted islets, we developed a method to retrieve such islets. We treated the implantation organ (liver) first enzymatically (collagenase) and then mechanically, thereafter we could re-isolate the transplanted islets for further in vitro studies. The retrieved islets had a decreased insulin relase, insulin content and glucose oxidation rate when compared to non-transplanted control islets. To understand the role of islet endothelium in the revascularization of transplanted islets we performed angiogenesis GEArray studies on islet endothelial cells, from non-cultured, cultured and transplanted islets. We found that the islet endothelium expressed mRNA for both inhibitors and inducers of angiogenesis, and that this expression differed with time. The functional consequences of this remain to be determined. In summary, the results presented above provide a useful platform for future studies of the morphology and function of islet endothelial cells, especially with a view for elucidating changes induced by islet transplantation.

Clinical islet transplantation is today an established alternative treatment for a selected group of type 1 diabetes patients. The predominant technique for transplantation is infusion of islets in the liver via the portal vein. Obstacles to advancing islet transplantation include limited engraftment resulting from an immediate blood-mediated inflammatory reaction (IBMIR), a life-long need for immunosuppression and the shortage of organs available. In this thesis, innate and adaptive immunity were explored in allogeneic and xenogeneic settings, with the long-term goal of preventing islet graft destruction. Methods for studying immune responses to islets in blood and engrafted islets in liver tissue (intragraft gene expression) were developed and refined. The innate response to human islets and exocrine tissue in ABO-compatible blood was characterized up to 48 h using a novel whole-blood model. Physiological changes in the blood during incubations were explored and adjusted to allow prolonged experiments. Increased production of chemokines targeting CXCR1/2, CCR2 and CXCR3 was observed, accompanied by massive intra-islet neutrophil infiltration. Notably, endocrine and exocrine tissue triggered a similarly strong innate immune response. Two studies of adult porcine islet transplantation to non-human primates (NHPs) were performed. Expression of immune response genes induced in liver tissue of non-immunosuppressed NHPs (≤72 h) was evaluated after porcine islet transplantation. Up-regulation of CXCR3 mRNA, together with IP-10, Mig, MIP-1α, RANTES, MCP-1 and cytotoxic effector molecule transcripts, was associated with T-cell and macrophage infiltration at 48-72 h. Long-term survival (>100 days) of adult porcine islets in a NHP model was later demonstrated using T-cell-based immunosuppression, including co-stimulatory blockade (anti-CD154 mAb). Graft failure was associated with increased levels of circulating, indirectly activated T cells, non-Gal pig-specific IgG and gene transcripts of inflammatory cytokines. Microarray analysis of the response to inflammatory cytokines in cultured porcine islets identified genes involved in cell death, immune responses and oxidative stress; this gene pattern coincided with physiological changes (decrease in insulin and ATP content). In summary, allogeneic whole-blood experiments and xenogeneic in vivo studies underscored the importance of preventing early inflammation and cell-recruitment to avoid islet graft loss in islet transplantation. Long-term survival of porcine islets in NHPs was shown to be feasible using T-cell-directed immunosuppression, including anti-CD154 mAb.

Thesis (Ph.D. in Cell & Developmental Biology) -- University of Colorado Denver, 2007.
Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 144-158). Free to UCD affiliates. Online version available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations;

Thesis (Ph.D. in Immunology) -- University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, 2006.
Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 151-168). Free to UCDHSC affiliates. Online version available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations;

Orientador: José Roberto Bosqueiro
Banca: Margarida Júri Saeki
Banca: Débora Cristina Damasceno
Resumo: O aumento da secreção de insulina estimulada por glicose é um mecanismo adaptativo observado nas ilhotas pancreáticas de animais resistentes à insulina. Estudos relatam que os ácidos graxos livres estimulam a secreção de insulina através da ativação do GPR40. Diante destes fatos, investigamos a secreção de insulina, a expressão de proteínas da via do GPR40 nas células ß e a participação dos lipídios na resistência à insulina induzida por dexametasona, através do tratamento com o redutor de lipídios bezafibrato. Os grupos receberam gavagem uma vez ao dia durante 28 dias: Controle (CTL) e DEXA com goma arábica 5% (1 ml/kg, peso corpóreo); BEZA e BEZA-DEXA com bezafibrato (300 mg/kg, p.c.). Nos últimos 5 dias de tratamento os grupos receberam injeções intraperitoniais: CTL e BEZA de solução salina (1 ml/kg, p.c.); DEXA e BEZA-DEXA de dexametasona (Decadron® 1,0 mg/kg, p.c). A secreção de insulina estimulada por glicose aumentou nos grupos BEZA e DEXA. BEZA-DEXA exibiu diminuição dos níveis de ácidos graxos livres, triglicérides e de insulina, mas não houve elevação dos níveis de glicose no sangue. Além disso, houve melhora na resistência à insulina e restauração do padrão de secreção de insulina, em comparação ao grupo DEXA. Nas ilhotas dos animais BEZA-DEXA a expressão das proteínas GPR40, PLCß1 e PKCδ foi significativamente maior em relação aos valores obtidos em DEXA. Esta via permaneceu inalterada nas ilhotas de DEXA e BEZA. Em conclusão, o tratamento com bezafibrato melhorou a função das células ß e impediu a indução de resistência à insulina pelo tratamento com dexametasona, mas os mecanismos não são conhecidos. O aumento na secreção de insulina em DEXA aparentemente não está relacionado com a ativação do GPR40. Contrariando a literatura, apesar da redução na secreção de insulina, as ilhotas dos animais BEZA-DEXA apresentaram ativação da via do GPR40
Abstract: Increased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion is an adaptive mechanism exhibited by pancreatic islets from insulin resistant animal. Studies report that the free fatty acids stimulate the insulin secretion via GPR40. As such, we investigate the expression of GPR40 in ß-cells and the involvement of lipids in dexamethasone-induced IR, by lipid-lowering therapy with bezafibrate. Groups received once daily gavage for 28 days: Control (CTL) and DEXA with gum Arabic 5% (1.0 mg/kg, body weight); BEZA and BEZA-DEXA with bezafibrate (300 mg/kg, b.w.). In the last 5 days of the treatment groups received intraperitoneal injections: CTL and BEZA of saline (1.0 mg/kg, b.w.); DEXA and BEZA-DEXA of dexamethasone (Decadron® 1.0 mg/kg, b.w.). The glucose-stimulated insulin secretion increased in the DEXA and BEZA groups. BEZA-DEXA shows decrease in fatty acids, triglycerides and insulin levels, but not raised blood glucose levels. In addition, there was improved in insulin resistance and restoration the insulin secretory pattern, when compared to DEXA group. In BEZA-DEXA islets, GPR40, PLCß1 and PKCδ protein content was significantly higher than DEXA. This pathway remained unchanged in DEXA and BEZA islets. In conclusion, bezafibrate treatment improved ß-cell function and prevented dexamethasone-induced IR, but the mechanisms are not known. Augmented insulin secretion in DEXA appears to be unrelated to the activation of the GPR40. Contrary to the literature, despite the reduction in insulin secretion, BEZA-DEXA islets showed activation of the GPR40 pathway
Mestre

La disminución de la masa de célula ß pancreática y la función en la diabetes tipo 2 (T2D) se puede atribuir a una serie de factores estresantes experimentados por el islote durante el desarrollo y la progresión de la enfermedad, incluyendo el amiloide de los islotes. El amiloide de los islotes pancreáticos se compone predominantemente del péptido humano amilina, también conocido como polipeptido amiloide del islote humano (hIAPP). Estos depósitos están implicados en el proceso de deterioro de las células ß y en la reducción de la masa celular ß e implica la agregación de monómeros solubles normales del péptido de la célula ß en oligomeros, fibrillas y, en última instancia, en depósitos de amiloide maduros. El mecanismo que subyace a la formación y agregación de hIAPP no está del todo claro. Sin embargo, varios estudios demostraron que el aumento de la síntesis de hIAPP dentro de la célula ß pancreática y su cambio conformacional a la lámina de estructura ß podría ser factores importantes para los depósitos de amiloide. El estrés del Retículo Endoplasmático (RE) ha sido implicado en la T2D relacionada con la obesidad, contribuyendo tanto a la resistencia a la insulina y como a la disfunción de las células ß del páncreas. La acumulación de proteínas mal plegadas puede perturbar el plegamiento de las proteínas en el RE y conducir a una alteración en la homeostasis del RE. Como consecuencia, la respuesta al estrés de RE se activa con el fin de restablecer el equilibrio entre la capacidad de plegamiento de proteínas y la carga de proteínas. En consecuencia, las cascadas sucesivas de transducción de señales se activan y se denominan colectivamente como la respuesta de la proteína desplegada (unfolding protein response, UPR). Este mecanismo incluye la atenuación de traslación de síntesis de proteínas, la degradación de proteínas asociadas al RE y la inducción de las chaperonas moleculares, un grupo de proteínas esenciales que ayudan al plegamiento de las proteínas recién sintetizadas, incluyendo la insulina y IAPP en la célula ß pancreática. También se sabe que muchas enfermedades neurodegenerativas están asociadas con la acumulación de proteínas mal plegadas en el RE que conducen al estrés de RE y a la pérdida progresiva de células. Dado que esta es una característica común observada también en T2D, la acumulación de agregados de la proteína IAPP puede ser responsable por la inducción o progresión del estrés de RE y en última instancia, el responsable por la inflamación de los islotes y su muerte. La célula ß pancreática se enfrenta al reto de aumentar la síntesis de proteínas durante una estimulación aguda o crónica. Esto provoca una carga en el RE, el orgánulo donde la síntesis y plegamiento de insulina y IAPP tienen lugar. Los factores plegables denominados chaperonas se unen a las proteínas secretoras desplegadas y las ayudan al plegamiento y agregación. Cada vez más pruebas sugieren que las chaperonas juegan un efecto protector importante en la disminución de la agregación de proteínas y en la fisiopatología de la deposición de amiloide. Además, la sobreexpresión de algunas chaperonas del RE puede proteger la célula contra la muerte celular causada por alteraciones de la homeostasis del RE. De interés, los ratones transgénicos que sobreexpresan la chaperona molecular BiP en células ß están protegidos contra la patogénesis de la T2D inducida por la obesidad, manteniendo la función de la célula ß y mejorando la homeostasis de la glucosa. Con la sobreexpresión de BiP también se ha demostrado que atenúa el estrés de RE inducido por ácidos grasos, asi como, la apoptosis en los hepatocitos. Además, BiP es una de las chaperonas responsables para el tráfico del IAPP a través del RE y aparato de Golgi en la célula ß pancreática humana. Del mismo modo, se ha verificado que la menor disponibilidad de la chaperona endógena, proteína disulfuro isomerasa (PDI), contribuye a los efectos tóxicos de la agregación de proteínas en la deficiencia de a1-antitripsina, lo que sugiere que ambos, BiP y PDI pueden tener potencial interés en el plegamiento y agregación de IAPP. Además, los últimos informes indican los efectos beneficiosos de determinados compuestos químicos (chaperonas farmacológicas) en el estrés de RE y en aliviar y mejorar el plegamiento de proteínas.El 4-Fenil butírico (PBA) y la taurina conjugado de ácido ursodesoxicólico (TUDCA) fueron capaces de aliviar el estrés de RE en células y animales. Aunque el papel del hIAPP en el desarrollo de la diabetes no está bien establecido, se ha sugerido que IAPP contribuye al aumento del estrés de la célula ß. Nuestro grupo ha demostrado que la agregación extracelular de hIAPP deteriora la vía ubiquitina-proteasoma y que además está implicada en el estrés de RE mediada por apoptosis de la célula ß pancreática. Las células INS1E, una línea de células ß de páncreas de rata, que expresan establemente hIAPP (hIAPP-INS1E), mostraron oligómeros intracelulares y una fuerte alteración de la insulina estimulada por glucosa así como en la secreción de IAPP. Además, la sobreexpresión de hIAPP en ratones y ratas transgénicas desencadena la apoptosis inducida por el estrés de RE en las células ß. En particular, los ratones y ratas transgénicos que expresan IAPP humano específicamente en células ß pancreáticas tienen los marcadores de estrés RE elevados (spliced X-box-binding protein-1; sXBP1, CCAAT/enhancer binding-protein homologous protein; CHOP, active caspase-12, y la acumulación de proteínas ubiquitinadas). La susceptibilidad de las células ß pancreáticas al estrés de RE y a la apoptosis inducida por IAPP nos llevó a explorar potenciales terapias para modular la respuesta de las células ß a factores de estrés de RE inducida por hIAPP, así como en aumentar sus mecanismos de protección con el fin de prevenir la apoptosis, recuperar la función y la disminución de la formación de los depósitos de amiloide en las células ß. En esta tesis, se pretende mejorar el conocimiento sobre el estrés de RE inducido por hIAPP y la posible mejoría por el tratamiento con chaperonas. Nuestra hipótesis es que hIAPP potencia estrés ER, y el tratamiento con chaperonas en modelos de células ß pancreáticas puede resultar en la mejora del estrés de RE inducido por hIAPP y en última instancia disminuir los depósitos de amiloide en los islotes pancreáticos. Estos hallazgos podrían ofrecer nuevas terapias para evitar la pérdida de la masa de células ß asociado con la formación de amiloide en la T2D. En el presente trabajo, hemos establecido inicialmente un modelo de sobreexpresión de hIAPP. Para este propósito, una línea de célula ß pancreática de rata, INS1E, fue transfectada de forma estable con hIAPP (células hIAPP-INS1E), rIAPP (células rIAPP-INS1E) o un vector vacío (células de control INS1E). El primer objetivo del trabajo fue conocer si la sobreexpresión de hIAPP se asocia con alteraciones en los niveles de marcadores de estrés de RE. Nuestro grupo observó previamente que estos clones estables en condiciones normales no mostraron cambios en la expresión de genes implicados en el estrés de RE, así como en la muerte celular. En este contexto, nuestros clones estables fueron expuestos a un inductor químico de estrés llamado tapsigargina. Dosis-respuesta y tiempo de experimentos determinaron las mejores condiciones para inducir un estrés de RE marcada sin la muerte celular excesiva. A continuación, para investigar el efecto de inductores fisiológicos de estrés de RE, las células se cultivaron en alta glucosa y palmitato (HG + PA). Los resultados obtenidos indicaron que la sobreexpresión de hIAPP activa la vía UPR, haciendo que estas células sean más sensibles al estrés que las células rIAPP-INS1E o las células control INS1E. Estos efectos están mediados a través de la regulación positiva de genes implicados en la defensa de las células ß contra el estrés de RE, incluyendo CHOP, ATF3 y sXBP1. Además, se investigó el papel de CHOP en el estrés de RE en respuesta a agentes inductores del estrés de RE, como la thapsigargin y HG + PA. La inhibición de la expresión de siRNA CHOP mostró una disminución en el marcador de apoptosis caspasa-3, como se ejemplifica en los experimentos de inmunohistoquímica. Hemos investigado posteriormente si las chaperonas endógenas y químicas eran capaces de recuperar el estrés de RE y mejorar la secreción de insulina en las células hIAPP-INS1E. Para este propósito, hemos sobreexpressado las chaperonas moleculares BiP y PDI por transducción adenoviral o tratando las células con las chaperonas químicas TUDCA y PBA. Se observó que después de la exposición a HG + PA, las células hIAPP-INS1E tratadas con las chaperonas (BiP, PDI, TUDCA o PBA) mostraron una disminución en los niveles de los marcadores de las proteínas de estrés, ATF3 y p-eIF2a. Además, TUDCA y PBA fueron capaces de reducir el estrés de RE potenciado por hIAPP y tapsigargina. Consecutivamente, hemos investigado el efecto de las chaperonas en la funcionalidad de las células hIAPP-INS1E. Para ello, las células hIAPP-INS1E se dejaron sin tratar o han sido tratadas con Ad-BiP, Ad-PDI y Ad-GFP (como control), TUDCA y PBA y se ha monitoreado su efecto sobre la secreción de insulina estimulada por glucosa. Los resultados realizados en condiciones basales de glucosa mostraron que BiP, TUDCA y PBA fueron capaces de restaurar y mejorar la secreción de insulina cuando comparadas con las células GFP o INS1E control. Curiosamente, la sobreexpresión de PDI parece tener un efecto perjudicial sobre la liberación de insulina, debido a una reducción en el contenido de insulina después de la exposición a la glucosa. A continuación y con el fin de abordar el papel de las chaperonas en condiciones de estrés fisiológicos, las células hIAPP-INS1E fueron expuestos a HG + PA en presencia de las chaperonas. Tal y como esperábamos, HG + PA causó una reducción en la secreción de insulina en las células que expresan hIAPP no transducidas en comparación con las células no tratadas. Con el tratamiento de chaperonas (BIP, PDI, TUDCA y PBA), se observó un re-establecimiento de los niveles de secreción de insulina de una manera similar que las células hIAPP-INS1E no tratados con HG+PA. Para confirmar estos resultados se midió el contenido de insulina de las células hIAPP-INS1E estimulados a 2.8 mM y 16 mM de glucosa, y se observó que los niveles de insulina fueron similares en todos los grupos. El tercer objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la efectividad del tratamiento en los islotes pancreáticos de ratones. Para este propósito, hemos sobreexpressado BiP y PDI en los islotes de tipo salvaje (WT) de ratón y en los islotes no-transducidos (CON) a través de una transducción adenoviral y hemos monitoreado la secreción de insulina en condiciones basales de 11 mM de glucosa. Descubrimos que la sobreexpresión de BiP aumenta la secreción de insulina en comparación con Ad-GFP y con los islotes control estimulados con 16 mM de glucosa. Además, la sobreexpresión de PDI no mostró cambios en la secreción de insulina. A continuación, se trataron islotes con las chaperonas químicas TUDCA y PBA. Hemos observado que PBA mejoró significativamente la secreción de insulina estimulada por glucosa en comparación con los islotes controles. Al contrario, el tratamiento con TUDCA no mostró diferencias en la secreción de insulina. Al mismo tiempo, hemos utilizado islotes de ratón transgénicos que sobreexpresan hIAPP (hIAPP Tg) y examinamos los efectos de las chaperonas en la secreción de insulina. La sobreexpresión de BiP aumentó los niveles de secreción de insulina a 16 mM de glucosa en comparación con islotes tratados con Ad-GFP. Se observaron efectos similares en el tratamiento con PBA. En cambio, con la sobreexpresión de PDI y el tratamiento con TUDCA no se observaron alteraciones en la secreción de insulina después de la estimulación con glucosa a pesar de los niveles en el contenido de insulina continuaran siendo similares en todos los grupos. Los mismos experimentos se realizaron en condiciones de HG+PA. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron que BiP y PDI aumentaron significativamente la secreción de insulina estimulada por glucosa cuando comparados con los islotes hIAPP Tg controles que se han cultivado a con HG+PA. Del mismo modo, con el tratamiento con TUDCA y PBA se ha restaurado los niveles de secreción de insulina, alcanzando los valores obtenidos con los islotes control Por último, se examinó si la disminución en el estrés de RE mejora la función de la célula ß y si está correlacionada con una disminución en la formación de amiloide. Después de 7 días de cultivo a 16 mM de glucosa, los islotes no transgénicos y hIAPP Tg mostraron depósitos de amiloide en comparación con islotes no transgénicos y islotes hIAPP Tg cultivados a 11 mM de glucosa (NG) como se muestra por el ensayo de tioflavina S. Después del tratamiento con las chaperonas moleculares (BiP y PDI) en alta glucosa, los resultados demostraron una disminución notable de la formación de amiloide. El mismo efecto inhibidor se observó con el tratamiento de PBA. En contraste, TUDCA mostró una ligera disminución en la formación de amiloide. En resumen, nuestros datos sugieren que el tratamiento con chaperones no sólo mejora el estrés del RE y la secreción de insulina, sino que también desempeña un importante efecto protector en el desarrollo de la formación de amiloide en un modelo de ratón con deposición de amiloide. Nuestros resultados sugieren que los tratamientos con chaperonas se pueden utilizar como una potencial terapia para el enfoque de la mejora del estrés de RE, función de las células ß y en la deposición de amiloide en T2D. En conclusión, nuestro trabajo permitió una mejor comprensión de cómo el estrés de RE afecta la función de la célula ß pancreática en un contexto de sobreexpresión de hIAPP: 1) Células hIAPP-INS1E son más sensibles a los inductores de estrés de RE que las células rIAPP y células control INS1E. 2) La inducción de estrés de RE es dependiente de la activación de CHOP, confiriendo protección a la inducción del estrés y apoptosis en nuestro modelo de células de sobreexpresión de hIAPP. 3) Las chaperonas moleculares y químicas fueron capaces de aliviar el estrés de RE inducida por las células ß que sobreexpresan hIAPP. 4) El tratamiento de con chaperonas ha llevado a una mejora en la secreción de insulina estimulada por glucosa en las células hIAPP-INS1E tanto en condiciones basales y como estresantes. 5) La sobreexpresión de BiP y PDI, así como el tratamiento con PBA potenciaron la capacidad secretora de insulina en los islotes de ratones WT en condiciones basales. 6) La sobreexpresión de BiP y el tratamiento con PBA aumentan la secreción de insulina en los islotes de ratón hIAPP Tg en condiciones normales. 7) BiP, PDI, TUDCA y PBA mejoran la secreción de insulina en el tratamiento con HG y PA en los islotes de ratón hIAPP Tg. 8) El tratamiento con chaperonas reduce la severidad del amiloide en los islotes de ratón hIAPP Tg expuestos a glucose de 16 mM durante 7 días. 9) Por lo tanto, este estudio confirma el papel de la sobreexpresión de hIAPP en el desencadenamiento de la respuesta de estrés de RE y mostró un nuevo mecanismo de protección contra el desarrollo de la formación de amiloide mediante el tratamiento con chaperonas en condiciones fisiopatológicas en un modelo de ratón con deposición de amiloide.

Orientador: Antonio Carlos Boschero
Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia
Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-11T18:52:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Barbosa_HelenaCristinadeLima_D.pdf: 1532159 bytes, checksum: fe4c9ebe74242b72b674f100ed50b427 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008
Resumo: Islet Neogenesis Associated Protein (INGAP) aumenta a massa das células ß e potencializa a secreção de insulina induzida por glicose. Neste projeto, estudamos os efeitos de um pentadecapeptídeo contendo a seqüência 104 a 118 de aminoácidos do INGAP (INGAP-PP) sobre a expressão de genes das células insulares, expressão e fosforilação de componentes das vias PI3K e MAPK, sinalização colinérgica, bem como secreções dinâmica e estática de insulina, em ilhotas isoladas de ratos neonatos. Ilhotas cultivadas com INGAP-PP por 4 dias secretaram significativamente mais insulina em resposta a glicose, comparado às ilhotas controle. Análise do padrão da expressão, por macroarray, de ilhotas cultivadas com INGAP-PP, mostrou que de 2.352 genes fixados na membrana de nylon 210 apresentaram expressão aumentada e apenas 4 diminuída. Dentre os genes modulados positivamente pelo INGAP-PP vários estão relacionados com o metabolismo das células insulares, mecanismo de secreção de insulina, crescimento, maturação, manutenção da massa celular e exocitose. Exposição aguda de ilhotas neonatais ao INGAP-PP aumentou significativamente a fosforilação de Akt-Ser473 e ERK1/2-Thr202/Tyr204 bem como a secreção dinâmica de insulina frente a 2 e 20 mM de glicose. Ilhotas tratadas durante 4 dias com INGAP-PP também apresentaram aumento da expressão do receptor muscarínico M3 e da PLC-ß2. Essas ilhotas, quando expostas agudamente ao Cch tiveram fosforilação de P70S6K-Thr389 e ERK1/2 aumentada. Ainda, essas ilhotas secretaram mais insulina frente a estímulo colinérgico, comparado às ilhotas controle. Nossos resultados mostram que o INGAP-PP aumenta a secreção de insulina, a transcrição de vários genes importantes para a funcionalidade do pâncreas endócrino e a fosforilação de proteínas envolvidas nas vias PI3K e MAPK. O aumento da secreção de insulina bem como fosforilação de P70S6K e ERK1/2 pelo Cch sugere participação também da via colinérgica nos efeitos mediados pelo INGAP-PP.
Abstract: The Islet Neogenesis Associated Protein (INGAP) increases pancreatic ß-cell mass and potentiates glucose-induced insulin secretion. Here, we have studied the effects of the pentadecapeptide having the 104-118 amino acid sequence of INGAP (INGAP-PP) on the expression of genes related to the pancreatic islets, the expression and phosphorylation of components of the PI3K and MAPK pathways, the cholinergic signaling, and static and dynamic insulin secretion in neonatal rat islet. Islets cultured with INGAP-PP released significantly more insulin in response to glucose than controls. The macroarray analysis showed that 210 out of 2,352 genes, spotted in the nylon membranes, were up- ,regulated while only 4 were down-regulated by INGAP-PP-treatment. The main categories of genes modulated by INGAP-PP 4-days cultured islet include several genes related with islet metabolism, insulin secretion mechanism, growth, maturation, maintenance of islet-cell mass, and exocytosis. Shortterm exposure of neonatal islets to INGAP-PP significantly increased Akt-Ser473 and ERK1/2-Thr202/Tyr204 phosphorylation as well as insulin secretion from islets perifused with 2 and 20 mM glucose. Four-days cultured islets with INGAP-PP also showed increased expression of M3 receptor subtype and PLC-ß2 proteins. In addition, brief exposure of INGAP-PP-treated islets to Cch significantly increased P70S6KThr389 and ERK1/2 phosphorylation and these islets released more insulin when challenged with Cch. In conclusion, these data show that INGAP-PP enhances insulin secretion and transcription of several islet genes, and also increases the expression and phosphorylation of proteins involved in PI3K and MAPK pathways. The increased insulin secretion in response to Cch as well as P70S6K and ERK1/2 proteins phosphorylation, also suggest the participation of the cholinergic pathway in INGAP-PP mediated effects.
Doutorado
Fisiologia
Doutor em Biologia Funcional e Molecular

Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels, is a complex process involving several cell types and molecular signals. Excessive vascular growth is a problem in tumors, and insufficient vascularization hampers the function of transplanted insulin-producing pancreatic islets. Understanding the mechanisms behind blood vessel growth generates increased means to control angiogenesis. In this thesis a model of pancreatic islet transplantation to muscle has been used to study the involvement of leukocytes in the development of new vasculature. Transplantation of isolated islets of Langerhans into mouse muscle promoted revascularization of the grafts to a level comparable to native islets in the pancreas. The complete and functional vascular restoration resulted in improved blood glucose control compared to the clinical standard implantation site, the liver. This proved muscle as a transplantation site to be a clinically relevant option for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. The rapid islet revascularization process was found to be dependent on a distinct subset of neutrophils characterized by high expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 and the enzyme matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9). These cells were recruited to recently transplanted and hypoxic grafts by islet-secreted vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). Leukocyte migration and interactions in the engraftment area were monitored using a high-speed confocal microscope followed by software tracking. New software was developed to visualize migration statistics. This tool revealed areas around the islet graft where neutrophil gathering coincided with sites of angiogenesis. Macrophages in the engraftment area positioned themselves close to the newly formed vasculature and were shown to have a stabilizing effect on the vessels. When macrophages were removed, no pericytes were recruited to the forming vasculature. The perivascular macrophages also began to express a pericyte marker when in the graft, suggesting a close relationship between these cell types or macrophage plasticity. In conclusion, this thesis presents muscle as a proangiogenic transplantation site for pancreatic islets for the treatment of type 1 diabetes, where the revascularization of the grafts was dependent on the recruitment and actions of specialized immune cells.

Islet plasticity has proven to be an important platform for the engineering of alternative islet tissue for transplantation. In vitro studies have shown the ability of islets to transdifferentiate into duct-like epithelial structures (DLS) thought to possess progenitor cells capable of replenishing damaged tissue within the pancreas. The aim of this study was to investigate the natural history of human derived duct-like epithelial structures transplanted into nude mice.
Human islet derived duct-like structures from three cadaver pancreases were subcutaneously transplanted into 6-8 week old male HSD athymic nude-Foxn1 mice. Six mice were sacrificed at day 3, 7, 14 and 21 from each time period. DLS were also placed in matrigel for in-vitro control samples. DLS were processed for immunohistochemistry for endocrine markers, epithelial markers, cell death and proliferation markers, islet maturation markers and angiogenic factors.
Our results show that as DLS are transplanted, there is an increase in cell death and proliferation. This increase in cell death and proliferation causes an increase in PDX-1 expression as well as VEGF, an angiogenic factor. But over time, transplanted DLS do not show an increase in cell death and show a small decrease in cell proliferation from pre-transplanted DLS. At day 3 of engraftment, DLS show a significant expression of PDX-1. We see a small increase in endocrine tissue after 3 days of transplantation, then an increase in endocrine cell death, which returns the percentage of endocrine cells back to pre-transplantation levels at day 21. DLS were shown to express VEGF, and once transplanted into an initial hypoxic environment there is a substantial increase in expression, followed by a recruitment of microvessels. Although there is a dynamic change in expression of cell markers throughout engraftment, there is no significant change in DLS size, nuclei per DLS or cell morphology over time.
DLS have been shown to survive subcutaneous transplantation and possess an initial increase in cell proliferation leading to increases in PDX-1 and VEGF expression. Transplanted DLS have shown to possess significant angiogenic properties with the recruitment of microvessels into subcutaneous DLS grafts. Subcutaneous DLS transplantation could be used in combination with islet transplantation to alleviate current problems with islet transplantation such as islet cell death and insufficient blood supply.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a diverse super family of seven transmembrane spanning proteins whose primary function is to initiate the activation of intracellular signalling pathways following stimulation by extracellular stimuli, which include photons, amines, lipids, ions, peptides and proteins. Due to the ubiquitous expression of GPCRs throughout various tissues, they are implicated in the regulation of a variety of diverse physiological processes, such as secretion of the blood glucose controlling hormones insulin, glucagon and somatostatin from islets. As a result, GPCRs are being identified as therapeutic targets for the treatment of type-2 diabetes. Despite the large array of potential GPCR targets available, only a handful of GPCRs have proven to be successful clinical targets, which may partially be due to the lack of availability of suitable translational models that reflect the human GPCR landscape. The aim of the experiments described in this thesis was to compare the mRNA expression profiles of all GPCRs (the GPCRome) and all GPCR peptide ligands (the Secretome) in human and mouse islets in order to determine the suitability of using mouse islets as a translational model for predicting the role of islet GPCRs and GPCR peptide ligands in human islet function. In addition, some experiments demonstrate how the GPCRome and Secretome data were used to assess the role of CXCL14 in islet function. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was used to compare the mRNA expression profiles of 376 GPCRs and 159 GPCR peptide ligands in human islets with their orthologous counterparts in islets isolated from two strains of mice (outbred ICR mice and inbred C57/BL6 mice). A reasonable degree of similarity in GPCR mRNA expression between human islets and islets from each mouse strain was found (r2 = 0.360 vs. ICR; r2 = 0.304 vs C57), with a highly similar expression profile observed between the ICR and the C57 mouse strains (r2 = 0.946). Regression analysis of GPCR peptide ligand mRNA expression revealed that human islets exhibit a reasonable degree of similarity compared to islets of both mouse strains (r2 = 0.245 vs. ICR; r2 = 0.225 vs. C57) with a highly similar expression profile observed between the two mouse strains (r2 = 0.968). In the process of quantifying the GPCR peptide ligand mRNA expression profiles, it was revealed that the orphan chemokine CXCL14 is expressed by both mouse and human islets. Studies have shown that CXCL14 knockout mice are protected from hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinemia and they have improved insulin sensitivity. However, CXCL14’s role in islet function has yet to be explored. The experiments described in this thesis demonstrate that CXCL14 inhibits insulin secretion from mouse islets and the MIN6 mouse β-cell line by a mechanism that is not transduced through a Gαi-mediated reduction in intracellular cAMP, but is likely to occur through an inhibition of glucose uptake or glucokinase activity. Further experiments designed to elucidate the target involved in CXCL14 function revealed that CXCL14 is neither an agonist nor an antagonist for the CXCR7 receptor and the putative CXCR4 receptor, and thus these receptors are not responsible for mediating CXCL14 function. In summary, the experiments described in this thesis reveal that human and mouse islets exhibit some degree of similarity in GPCR and GPCR peptide ligand mRNA expression, but the suitability of using mouse islets as surrogates for predicting human islet physiology is receptor/receptor family specific. This thesis also reveals how the GPCRome and Secretome data can be employed to investigate the role of particular ligands, such as CXCL14, and potential GPCRs responsible for mediating the actions of such ligands in islet function.

Type 1 diabetes affects one in every 400-600 children and adolescents in the US. Standard therapy with exogenous insulin is burdensome, associated with a significant risk of dangerous hypoglycemia, and only partially efficacious in preventing the long term complications of diabetes. Pancreatic islet transplantation has emerged as a promising therapy for type 1 diabetes. However, this cell-based therapy is significantly limited by inadequate islet supply (more than one donor pancreas is needed per recipient), instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction, and loss of islet viability/function during isolation and following implantation. In particular, inadequate revascularization of transplanted islets results in reduced islet viability, function, and engraftment. Delivery of pro-vascularization factors has been shown to improve vascularization and islet function, but these strategies are hindered by insufficient and/or complex release pharmacokinetics and inadequate delivery matrices as well as technical and safety considerations. We hypothesized that controlled presentation of angiogenic cues within a bioartificial matrix could enhance the vascularization, viability, and function of transplanted islets. The primary objective of this dissertation was to enhance allogenic islet engraftment, survival and function by utilizing synthetic hydrogels as engineered delivery matrices. Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-maleimide hydrogels presenting cell adhesive motifs and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were designed to support islet activities and promote vascularization in vivo. We analyzed the material properties and cyto-compatibility of these engineered materials, islet engraftment in a transplantation model, and glycemic control in diabetic subjects. The rationale for this project is to establish novel biomaterial strategies for islet delivery that support islet viability and function via the induction of local vascularization.

Background: The endocrine pancreas contains multiple cell types co-localized into clusters called the Islets of Langerhans. The predominant cell types include alpha and beta cells, which produce glucagon and insulin, respectively. The regulated release of these hormones maintains whole body glucose homeostasis, essential for normal metabolism and to prevent diabetes and complications from the disease. Given the heterogeneous nature of islet composition and absence of unique surface markers, many previous studies have focused on the whole islet. Sorting islet cells by intracellular hormone expression overcomes this limitation and provides pure populations of individual islet cell subsets, specifically alpha and beta cells. This technique provides the framework for characterizing human islet composition and will work towards identifying the genetic changes alpha and beta cells undergo during development, growth, and proliferation. Methods: Human islets obtained from cadaveric donors are dissociated into a single cell suspension, fixed, permeabilized, and labeled with antibodies specific to glucagon, insulin, and somatostatin. Individual alpha, beta, and delta cell populations are simultaneously isolated using fluorescence activated cell sorting. Candidate gene expression and microRNA profiles have been obtained for alpha and beta cell populations using a quantitative nuclease protection assay. Thus far, RNA has been extracted from whole islets and beta cells and subjected to next generation sequencing analysis. Results: The ratio of beta to alpha cells significantly increases with donor age and trends higher in female donors; BMI does not appear to significantly alter the ratio. Further, we have begun to investigate the unique gene expression profiles of alpha and beta cells versus whole islets, and have characterized the microRNA profiles of the two cell subsets. Conclusions: By establishing methods to profile multiple characteristics of alpha and beta cells, we hope to determine how gene, miRNA, and protein expression patterns change under environmental conditions that lead to beta cell failure or promote beta cell development, growth, and proliferation.

A scourge of Type I and Type II diabetes impacts the health of hundreds of millions worldwide. The number and prevalence of diabetics are expected to rise dramatically in the next two decades. Diabetes is defined by chronic hyperglycemia which can result in a number of detrimental and costly metabolic, renal, cardiovascular and neurological disorders. Identification of at risk individuals and effective blood glucose management are critical to improving diabetic outcomes and preventing hyperglycemic complications. Diabetes prevention and treatment is limited by the understanding of islet function and mass in the diabetogenic and diabetic state. The islets of Langerhans are dispersed throughout the pancreas and comprise <2% of the pancreatic mass. The reclusive nature of islet cells presents unique challenges understanding disease development. No agent capable of exclusively targeting pancreatic β-cells within the islet has been discovered and the lack of targeting agent specificity impedes efforts to: quantify β-cell mass and develop novel therapeutics. We propose β-cell targeting can be improved by targeting unique combinations of receptors simultaneously with multivalent ligands. A synthetic multivalent agent composed of two β-cell specific diabetic therapeutics, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glibenclamide (Glb), targeted against the GLP-1R and the sulfonylurea-1 receptor (SUR1) is a lead compound for the development of specific bi-functional islet cell targeting agents for use in the in vivo detection and treatment of β -cells. Herein, we describe the synthesis and initial characterization of a heterobivalent ligand composed of GLP-1 coupled to Glb. The heterobivalent ligand binds to an unaltered β-cell line with increased specificity relative to a human pancreatic exocrine cell line. Additionally, receptor cross-linking modifies β-cell signaling. Exposure of β-cells to the heterobivalent ligand results in antagonism of SUR1-Ca²⁺ signaling and equipotent agonism of GLP-1R-cAMP signaling, in comparison to the cognate monomeric ligands (Glb and GLP-1). Perturbations in intracellular signaling modifies β-cell insulin secretion resulting in decreased basal insulin secretion and with maintained yet reduced ability to potentiate β-cell glucose stimulated insulin secretion. GLP-1/Glb β-cell specificity and functional modulation suggests combinatorial receptor targeting is an effective strategy for the development of bi-functional cell-specific targeting agents, warranting further investigation and optimization.

Thesis (Ph.D. in Epidemiology, Dept. of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics) -- University of Colorado Denver, 2008.
Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 81-92). Free to UCD Anschutz Medical Campus. Online version available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations;

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have made substantial progress in implicating genomic regions in type 2 diabetes (T2D) susceptibility. Whilst attributing causal mechanisms to loci has proved non trivial, these studies have provided insights into the genetic architecture underlying the disease. GWAS findings indicate a causal role for gene regulatory processes, and suggest that pancreatic beta-cells play a pivotal role in mediating common T2D association. Work presented in this thesis therefore sought to generate novel regulatory annotations from human islets, and to assess whether T2D-associated loci can be accurately fine-mapped using statistical approaches, with the aim of improving understanding of causal mechanisms underlying these associations through integration of the two approaches. Using small RNA sequencing in human islets and enriched beta-cell populations (both n=3) and mRNA sequencing in a large number of human islets (n=130), I increased the number of available human islet annotations. These studies identified high or islet-specific expression in many micro RNAs (miRNAs) without previously known roles in human islets. It also provided the largest study of quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) and allele-specific expression (ASE) in human islets to date, identifying significant eQTLs for 1,636 genes and significant ASE at 8,754 genes. There was enrichment of active islet chromatin, compared to other tissues, at the best eQTL variant for each gene, but also substantial sharing of significant eQTLs between islets and other tissues. Simulations were used to assess the utility of fine-mapping approaches for refining common disease-associated loci to smaller intervals or sets of variants likely to include the causal variant. The results demonstrated that fine-mapping can indeed refine these loci to sets or intervals of a size more amenable to functional follow-up or focussed intersection with high quality annotations. Furthermore, using an approximated Bayesian approach, I was able to refine twenty-one of the known common T2D-associated loci. Finally, using the newly generated annotations, I demonstrated enrichment of T2D association signal for regulatory RNA annotations (islet lncRNAs and miRNA target gene sets). I also identified examples in which these types of annotation overlap common and rare variation suggestive of a role in T2D pathogenesis. Using further islet annotations, I also uncovered potential causal mechanisms at four of the twentyone fine-mapped common T2D loci. These data therefore provide many novel islet regulatory annotations that can be intersected with T2D genetics, and provide a first example of how such an approach can lead to novel potential causal mechanisms underlying association loci.

Islet transplantation has emerged as a promising cell-based therapy for the treatment of diabetes, but its clinical efficacy remains limited by deleterious host responses that underlie islet destruction. In this dissertation, we describe the assembly of cell surface-supported thin films that confer molecular-level control over the composition and biophysicochemical properties of the islet surface with implications for improving islet engraftment. Specifically, the process of layer-by-layer (LbL) polymer self assembly was employed to generate nanothin films of diverse architecture with tunable properties directly on the extracellular surface of individual islets. Importantly, these studies are the first to report in vivo survival and function of nanoencapsulated cells, and have helped establish a conceptual framework for translating the diverse applications of LbL films to cellular interfaces. Additionally, through proper design of film constituents, coatings displaying ligands and bioorthogonally reactive handles may be generated, providing a modular strategy for incorporating exogenously derived regulators of host responses alongside native constituents of the islet surface. Towards this end, a strategy was developed to tether thrombomodulin to the islet surface in a site-specific manner, thereby facilitating local generation of the powerful anti-inflammatory agent, activated protein C. Collectively, this work offers novel biomolecular strategies for cell surface engineering with broad biomedical and biotechnological applications in cell-based therapeutics and beyond.