Co-culture of post-cryopreserved human pancreatic islet cells with small intestinal submucosa

AIM: To investigate the supportive and protective effect of the small intestinal submucosa (SIS) on the post-cryopreserved human pancreatic islet cells. METHODS: The purified human islet cells were divided into SIS and control group after they were cryopreserved for 1 mo. The recovery rate of the islet cells was determined after they were cultured in RPMI-1640 for 1 wk. The morphological features and insulin excretion after stimulation were assessed in vitro. RESULTS: The recovery rate of the islet cells in SIS group was significantly higher than that in the control group (90.5 ± 1.8% vs 62.7 ± 3.6%, P < 0.05), and the cells were well shaped. After stimulation, the insulin secretion in the SIS group was markedly higher than that in the control group (25.8 ± 1.7 mU/L vs 14.6 ± 1.3 mU/L, P < 0.05). When the islet cells were placed in the high glucose solution containing theophylline, the calculated stimulation index in SIS group was about 3 times as high as that in the control group. CONCLUSION: The co-culture of post-cryopreserved human pancreatic islet cells with small intestinal submucosa is a promising way to increase recovery rate and improve the function of the post-cryopreserved islets.