ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on enhancing rat islets viability and function in vitro by a pretransplant co-culture.Methods4-week-old Wistar rats were used as donors, bone mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and subcultured. Islets of Wistar rats were isolated and purified by one-step single-layer Histopaque-1077. Then islets were divided into four groups randomly, 2 groups co-cultured with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) (one using low-glucose medium; the other using high-glucose medium ); 2 groups were cultured alone (low-glucose medium; high-glucose medium), each group was further stratified into 3 subgroups(3, 7, 14 d); the survival and functionality of these islets were observed and evaluated. The amount of glucose stimulated secreted insulin were measured wth a rat/mouse insulin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit and stimulation index was also calculated.ResultsCompared with those not co-cultured, islets co-cultured with MSCs demonstrated significantly higher survival rates and viability both in 3th, 7th and 14th day ( P ＜ 0. 01 ); furthermore, cocultured islets revealed higher levels of glucose stimulated insulin secretion and secretion indexes in 7th day (P＜0.01).ConclusionRat islet cells co-cultured with MSCs have longer in vitro survival and better functions.