Fabrication of hyper-islet by microcontrol of cellular position

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26390038
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Nano/Microsystems
• Research Institution: Yokohama City University
• Principal Investigator: Kojima Nobuhiko 横浜市立大学, 国際総合科学部(八景キャンパス), 准教授 (90342956)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 膵島 / インスリン / 糖鎖 / レクチン / 糖尿病 / 移植 / 血糖値 / 自己組織化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

According to the present study, self-organized cell positioning of pancreatic α and β cells in reconstructed pancreatic islets is caused by sugar chain (β-galactoside). Inhibition of the self-organization by a carbohydrate-specific lectin downregulate the insulin secretion activity of the islet. Highly functionalized islets (hyper-islets) which have enhanced insulin secretion activity by α cells have been found to efficiently reduce the blood glucose level of diabetes model mice. These findings indicate the importance of "designing" of islets for islet transplantation.

Free Research Field

組織工学・細胞生物学