| Summary: | Human islet transplantation would offer a less invasive and more physiological alternative than whole pancreas transplantation and insulin injections respectively for the treatment of diabetes mellitus if islet graft survival can be improved, initial recipient post-transplant insulin independence declines to <10% after 5 years. Factors contributing to graft failure include enzymatic disruption of the islet microenvironment during isolation, diabetogenic effects of immunosuppressants and metabolic stress resulting from slow revascularisation. Aims: To investigate the effect of co-culture in both static (SC) and rotational culture (RC) of BRINBDU beta-cells (Dl 1) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) on D11 insulin secretion; and the effect of a thiazolidmedione (TZD) on Dl 1 function and HUVEC proliferation. To assess the effect of culture media, SC, RC and a TZD on human islet morphology, insulin secretion and VEGF production. To initiate in vivo protocol development for assessment of revascularisation of human islet grafts.
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