The effect of immunosuppressive drugs on the activity of pancreatic islet cells / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of immunosuppressive drugs on the activity of pancreatic islet cells, and to explore their role in islet allotransplantation. Method Human pancreatic islet cells were isolated and purified in vitro, and their activity was determined by MTT assay after incubation with immunosuppressive drugs in different concentrations. Results The activity of the islet cells was not reduced after exposure to rapamycin at lower concentrations, although exposure to rapamycin at higher concentrations (≥1ng/ml) was associated with a significant inhibition of activity. No reduction of islet cell activity was observed after exposure to daclizumab and FTY720, at either lower or higher concentrations. Conclusion Rapamycin acts to damage islet cells directly, and the degree of the damage was concentration-dependent. No obvious toxicity to the islet cells was observed after exposure to daclizumab and FTY720.