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Biomedical subjects

A Penfornis

Publications and source records attributed to A Penfornis.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Screening of the TAP1 gene by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: detection and comparison of new polymorphisms between patients and controls.

New protective or disease-associated polymorphisms in the TAP1 gene were sought in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients with the use of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) screening of genomic DNA. The TAP1 gene is located in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II region of the genome and encodes components of a peptide transporter essential for antigen presentation by HLA class I molecules. Fragments of TAP1 corresponding to the 5' promoter, each of the 11 exons (with portions of adjacent intronic regions) and the 3' flanking region were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and then subjected to DGGE. DNA fragments of TAP1 yielded DGGE bands with patterns whose frequencies differed between IDDM patients and controls. Specific DGGE band patterns with fragments corresponding to the promoter, exons or introns 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 of TAP1 were detected exclusively in either patients or controls. Sequencing of TAP1 fragments encompassing exon 7 gave rise to a DGGE band pattern exclusively observed in an IDDM patient and sequencing revealed a previously unidentified polymorphisms at codon 518 (GTC-->ATC, Val-->Ile). Another unique polymorphism uncovered by DGGE revealed by sequencing a polymorphism in intron 2 in a diabetic patient. The genotypes of additional HLA class II matched patients and controls were determined with regard to five exonic and one intronic TAP1 polymorphism. A 10 base pair intronic insertion in intron 9 was exclusively identified in controls and missing from patients (P = 0.017). Further large population-based studies may reveal whether these newly identified at risk or protective TAP1 variants confer markers of statistical risk in diverse population groups.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Langerhans islet preparation in cell transplantation.

Islet cell transplantation is potentially one of the best techniques for the almost perfect symptomatic treatment of Type 1 diabetes mellitus. Thanks to the considerable progress achieved in isolating and purifying human islet cells, highly encouraging results have recently been reported. However, due to the need for immunosuppression treatment, the indications are presently as limited as those for transplantation of the vascularized pancreas, namely cotransplantation. The ultimate goal of transplantation is to allow long-term function of the grafted tissues using no or transitory host immunosuppression. When compared to solid organ grafts, cellular transplants are more amenable to creative strategies to accomplish this goal. We review the current status of islet transplantation in man and then the major steps before islet transplantation and their prospects.

Animals↗

Grafted immunoisolated human benign insulinoma reduces the incidence of diabetes in young NOD mice without abolishing the auto-immunity.

Exogenous insulin may prevent the auto-immunity of diabetes in rodents. We studied the preventive effect of a safe endogenous insulin delivery in the diabetes-prone NOD mouse by immuno-protected human insulinoma grafts. Perm-selective macrocapsules seeded with human insulinoma were implanted in 34 young NOD mice, 4 and 8 weeks old. The animals were observed 18 months and compared to 34 NOD mice grafted with empty fibers and 25 simply observed. Before grafting, the capacity of the macrocapsules to release insulin was assessed in vitro by perifusion studies and by implantation to 12 diabetic NOD mice. At perifusion, the insulin release of the macrocapsules responded to step changes in glucose. During the in vivo study, the capsules reduced the glycemia of diabetic mice from 18+/-3.5 to 7.3+/-2.1 mmol/L. In the study groups, the survival rate without diabetes (50-70%) was statistically different from controls (10-20%). Recipient's splenocytes transplanted to irradiated male NOD mice transferred the autoimmunity in 75-83% of grafted mice and 86-100% of controls. Insulitis was persistent in all, although milder in the grafted mice. Encapsulated insulinoma prevents diabetes in the NOD mouse without abolishing the auto-immunity. The quantity and quality of the tissues needed and the best moment to graft them have to be determined. The prevention of diabetes by encapsulated pancreatic tissue is appealing because of its simplicity and safety.

Animals↗

The use of low glycaemic index foods improves metabolic control of diabetic patients over five weeks.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether any benefit might occur from lowering the glycaemic index of diet in the medium term in diabetic patients. Eighteen well-controlled diabetic patients (12 Type 1 and 6 Type 2 non-insulin-treated), were assigned to either a high mean glycaemic index or low mean glycaemic index diet for 5 weeks each in a random order using a cross-over design. The two diets were equivalent in terms of nutrient content and total and soluble fibre content. The glycaemic indices were 64 +/- 2 (mean +/- SD) % and 38 +/- 5% for the two diets. The high glycaemic index diet was enriched in bread and potato and the low glycaemic index diet in pasta, rice, and legumes. At the end of the study periods, the following variables were improved on the low compared to the high glycaemic index diet: fructosamine (3.9 +/- 0.9 vs 3.4 +/- 0.4 mmol l-1, p less than 0.05); fasting blood glucose (10.8 +/- 2.8 vs 9.6 +/- 2.7 mmol l-1, p less than 0.02); 2-h postprandial blood glucose (11.6 +/- 2.9 vs 10.3 +/- 2.5 mmol l-1, p less than 0.02); mean daily blood glucose (12.0 +/- 2.5 vs 10.4 +/- 2.7 mmol l-1, p less than 0.02); serum triglycerides (1.5 +/- 0.9 vs 1.2 +/- 0.6 mmol l-1, p less than 0.05). No significant differences were found in body weight, HbA1C, insulin binding to erythrocytes, insulin and drug requirements, and other circulating lipids (cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, phospholipids, Apolipoprotein A1, Apolipoprotein B). Thus the inclusion of low glycaemic index foods in the diet of diabetic patients may be an additional measure which slightly but favourably influences carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, requires only small changes in nutritional habits and has no known deleterious effects.

Adult↗

Bioartificial pancreas in autoimmune nonobese diabetic mice.

The authors wanted to test the long-term effectiveness of immunoisolation in the NOD mouse, an adequate model of Type I diabetes. Recipients were diabetic female NOD mice with sustained plasma glucose levels above 400 mg/100 ml. They were grafted intraperitoneally with permselective hollow fibers seeded with human insulinoma (n = 6), rodent insulinoma (n = 6), or human islets (n = 6). Controls were 15 nontreated diabetic females and 10 nondiabetic male NOD mice implanted with nonseeded macrocapsules. Electron microscopy (rectangular crystalline nucleoids characteristic of B-cells), in vitro release of insulin (during abrupt changes in glucose concentration from 40 to 400 mg/dl and return, M +/- SD insulin levels were 122 +/- 5 uu/ml and 315 +/- 17 at low and high glucose), evidence of binding hormone receptors (VIP and GIP, the binding sites being coupled with adenylyl cyclase stimulation) were used to assess the quality of the transplant. Survival was always prolonged in grafted animals. Taking complete and long-term (less than 3 months) correction of hyperglycemia as the criterion, the success rate was about 50% as observed in streptozotocin rats. Splenocytes isolated from cured and not cured recipients and injected into irradiated nondiabetic male NOD mice were always able to transfer the disease. Our bioartificial pancreas is efficient in preventing the recurrence of the disease in autoimmune diabetes.

Animals↗