The improvement in islet engraftment using a gelatin hydrogel nonwoven fabric on subcutaneous islet transplantation

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K08591
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 55010:General surgery and pediatric surgery-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Inagaki Akiko 東北大学, 医学系研究科, 助教 (20360224)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 後藤 昌史 東北大学, 医学系研究科, 教授 (50400453)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 膵島移植 / 皮下移植 / 血管新生 / スキャホールド / ADSC

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The subcutaneous region is attracting attention as a new transplant site for islets because it is minimally invasive and can be easily removed and reimplanted as needed. However, there is a problem of poor blood flow, which is important for the successful implantation of transplanted islets. In this study, we focused on nonwoven structured gelatin base material (GHNF) and verified it using mouse and rat models. The results showed that in the mouse model, the combination of GHNF and adipose-derived stem cells effectively promoted pre-transplant vascular bed construction and significantly exceeded the current standard method of trans-portal islet transplantation. In a rat model, the transplantation outcome was also found to be improved by the subcutaneous preimplantation of GHNF.

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Free Research Field

膵島移植

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

皮下は低侵襲で必要に応じて摘出や再移植が容易なため、膵島の新たな移植部位として注目されているが、移植膵島の生着に重要な血流に乏しいという問題がある。本研究では、GHNFとADSCを組合わせることで、現在の標準法である経門脈膵島移植を大きく上回る移植効果を発揮し得ることが判明した。本研究の成果は、低侵襲で移植膵島のモニタリングや摘出が容易な皮下膵島移植の実現につながり、また人工多能性幹細胞(iPS細胞)等から作製されるインスリン産生細胞等を用いた安全な細胞移植療法の実現を可能にする点から社会的意義のあるものである。