Cytokine transcripts in peripheral blood cells during immunosuppressive induction therapy in allogeneic human islet transplantation.
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Persistent humoral autoimmunity to the enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) has been described in a substantial proportion of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) of long duration. The source of the stimulus for this autoimmune reactivity is still unknown. Because the GAD 65 isoform is mainly expressed in pancreatic beta-cells and in the nervous system we investigated in the present study of the largest number of well characterized patients with longstanding IDDM (n = 105; median duration: 21 years; range: 10-46 years) the presence of autoantibodies to GAD 65 and their relationship to a residual C-peptide response or peripheral and autonomic neuropathy. Additionally we studied the HLA-DR status relative to GAD 65 antibodies in 86 out of the 105 individuals. One hundred healthy control subjects and 100 recent onset IDDM patients were also studied for GAD 65 antibodies. GAD 65 antibodies were detected in a radioligand-binding-assay with recombinant human GAD 65 and were present in 32% of the long-term diabetic patients, 82% of the recent onset IDDM patients and in 3% of the healthy control subjects. A preserved C-peptide response to i.v. glucagon (Hendriksen criteria) was observed in 23% of the long-term IDDM patients. Autonomic neuropathy and peripheral neuropathy was identified using criteria based on both symptoms and formal testing giving a frequency of 67% vs 79%. The HLA specific DR 4/X was observed in 47% and HLA-DR 3/X in 22% of the long-term IDDM patients. Patients who were heterozygous for DR3/DR4 were found in 23% of the cases. GAD 65 antibodies were significantly less frequent in the long-term IDDM patients compared to recent onset IDDM (p < 0.001), and diabetes duration showed a significant negative correlation with GAD 65 antibody index levels (r = 0.22, p < 0.01). Interestingly, GAD 65 antibodies were not significantly correlated either with residual beta-cell function or neuropathy and no particular HLA-DR status was associated with persistent GAD 65 antibodies. In conclusion neither residual beta-cell function nor diabetic neuropathy or a certain HLA-DR specificity are exclusively associated with persistent autoimmunity directed to GAD 65 in longstanding IDDM. The stimulus for the persistent humoral immune response and its significance for the disease process and its complications remain to be established.
The humoral immune response to islet autoantigens, here defined by the presence of islet cell antibodies (ICA) and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD 65) antibodies, was studied in patients with long-term insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) receiving immunosuppressive therapy following kidney and islet-after-kidney transplantation. In a cross-sectional study of 30 kidney-grafted, long-term IDDM patients and 30 matched, nontransplanted IDDM controls, we observed a significant (P<0.05) decrease in ICA positivity by standard immunosuppressive therapy, but not in frequency or index levels of GAD 65 antibodies. Because of this intriguing finding, we investigated, in a pilot study on seven islet-after-kidney transplant recipients, the time course of frequency and levels of ICAs and GAD 65 antibodies relative to islet graft function. Stable islet graft function was seen in the patients with low GAD 65 antibody index levels, whereas rapid islet graft failure occurred in a patient with high GAD 65 antibody index levels prior to transplantation. In addition, GAD 65 autoimmunity reoccurred in one pretransplant antibody-negative patient 2 months after graft failure was noted. In conclusion, these observations suggest that beta-cell autoimmunity directed to GAD 65 can persist despite immunosuppressive therapy and may adversely affect islet graft function, possibly indicating disease recurrence as a major threat to successful clinical islet transplantation.
The intraportal injection of human pancreatic islets has been indicated as a possible alternative to the pancreas transplant in insulin-dependent diabetic patients. Aim of the present work was to study the effect of intraportal injection of purified human islets on: (a) the basal hepatic glucose production; (b) the whole body glucose homeostasis and insulin action; and (c) the regulation of insulin secretion in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients bearing a kidney transplant. 15 recipients of purified islets from cadaver donors (intraportal injection) were studied by means of the infusion of labeled glucose to quantify the hepatic glucose production. Islet transplanted patients were subdivided in two groups based on graft function and underwent: (a) a 120-min euglycemic insulin infusion (1 mU/kg/min) to assess insulin action; (b) a 120-min glucose infusion (+75 mg/di) to study the pattern of insulin secretion. Seven patients with chronic uveitis on the same immunosuppressive therapy as grafted patients, twelve healthy volunteers, and seven insulin-dependent diabetic patients with combined pancreas and kidney transplantation were also studied as control groups. Islet transplanted patients have: (a) a higher basal hepatic glucose production (HGP: 5.1 +/- 1.4 mg/kg/ min; P < 0.05 with respect to all other groups) if without graft function, and a normal HGP (2.4 +/- 0.2 mg/kg/min) with a functioning graft; (b) a defective tissue glucose disposal (3.9 +/- 0.5 mg/kg/min in patients without islet function and 5.3 +/- 0.4 mg/kg/min in patients with islet function) with respect to normals (P < 0.01 for both comparisons); (c) a blunted first phase insulin peak and a similar second phase secretion with respect to controls. In conclusion, in spite of the persistence of an abnormal pattern of insulin secretion, successful intraportal islet graft normalizes the basal HGP and improves total tissue glucose disposal in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
In the present study the time courses of serum lipase, serum amylase and serum elastase 1 after ERCP/ES as indicators for pancreatic damage were prospectively analysed in 46 cases. The elevations of pancreatic enzymes after ERCP/ES scattered in a wide range and elevations occured which were greater than one hundred times the upper limit of normal. A moderate increment was seen as early as 5 minutes after intubation of the papilla. Elevations above the upper limit of normal were still seen at 24 hours after the procedure. The maxima occurred about 6 hours after the procedure. Lipase was the most sensitive among the parameters tested, nearly 50% of the cases with previously normal values revealed elevated lipase after the procedure. For daily clinical routine a single lipase measurement at 2 hours after the beginning of the ERCP/ES provides valuable information for planning further surveillance. Younger age and high calcium levels seem to be risk factors for ERCP/ES-induced pancreatic damage. The time course of serum lipase seems to be a more reliable criterion for ERCP/ES-induced pancreatic damage than the poorly defined complication of post-ERCP pancreatitis . The high incidence of a measurable pancreatic injury after ERCP/ES provides a sensitive tool for the testing of drugs claimed to be protective for the pancreas and for evaluating new ERCP/ES techniques. Measurement of the serum lipase before, 8 and 24 hours after the procedure, and a detailed description of degree and duration of pain, are necessary for such studies.
Correct classification of diabetic patients in adulthood at the time of diagnosis is often difficult. Some may be initially diagnosed as having non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and be treated with diet and/or oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHA) but later require insulin treatment. Islet cell antibodies and antibodies to GAD 65 have been associated with the development of insulin deficiency in this group of patients. In the present study, 150 patients with the initial diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus in adulthood (30-60 years) were seen regularly over a period of 5 years in our diabetes outpatient clinic. Though treatment was started with diet or diet plus OHA, insulin therapy had to be introduced in a subset of patients. In all cases, serum obtained at the time of the initial diagnosis was analysed for islet cell antibodies and GAD 65 antibodies, as well as for thyroid and adrenal autoantibodies as possible markers for polyendocrine involvement. Islet cell antibody status, body mass index and the presence of thyroid and adrenal autoantibodies showed no significant correlation to subsequent insulin requirement (< 2 years after diagnosis). In contrast, GAD 65 antibodies were significantly associated with the occurrence of clinical insulin dependency less than 2 years after the initial diagnosis (P < 0.01), thus identifying a substantial proportion of patients requiring insulin therapy within the first 2 years after the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Determination of GAD 65 antibodies in patients with late-onset diabetes may contribute to their correct classification and adequate treatment.
The effect of the insulinotropic gut hormone glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) was studied on the residual insulin capacity of prediabetic nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice, a model of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type 1). This was done using isolated pancreas perfusion and dynamic islet perifusion. Prediabetes was defined by insulitis and fasting normoglycemia. Insulitis occurred in 100% of NOD mice beyond the age of 12 weeks. K values in the intravenous glucose tolerance test were reduced in 20-week-old NOD mice compared with age matched non-diabetes-prone NOR (nonobese resistant) mice (2.4 +/- 1.1 vs 3.8 +/- 1.5% min-1, P < 0.05). Prediabetic NOD pancreases were characterized by a complete loss of the glucose-induced first-phase insulin release. In perifused NOD islets GLP-1, at concentrations already effective in normal islets, left the insulin release unaltered. However, a significant rise of glucose-dependent insulin secretion occurred for GLP-1 concentrations > 0.1 nM. This was obtained with both techniques, dynamic islet perifusion and isolated pancreas perfusion, indicating a direct effect of GLP-1 on the beta-cell. Analysis of glucose-insulin dose-response curves revealed a marked improvement of glucose sensitivity of the NOD endocrine pancreas in the presence of GLP-1 (half-maximal insulin output without GLP-1 15.2 mM and with GLP-1 9.4 mM, P < 0.002). We conclude that GLP-1 can successfully reverse the glucose sensing defect of islets affected by insulitis.
Optimal blood glucose levels and normal insulin sensitivity are aims in the treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Insulin sensitivity and insulin reserve are closely interrelated. It is essential to know more about both of these parameters at clinical diagnosis, because their preservation may delay the occurrence of diabetes-related complications. B-cell function is likely to be retained for a longer period in patients with adult onset of the disease compared with children. In this study, intensive insulin treatment was initiated in newly diagnosed adult patients to determine if it preserved endogenous insulin secretion longer than conventional therapy. Forty-nine patients with newly diagnosed diabetes were carefully categorized as having IDDM according to clinical and serological criteria. They were randomized to an intensive (I group) or conventional (C group) insulin therapy and evaluated for 5 years. Every 6 months, a check-up included glucagon-stimulated C-peptide (GSCP), hyperglycemic glucose clamp with arginine bolus, euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp, and screening for microalbuminuria, retinopathy, and neuropathy. At the end of the study, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was 6.3% +/- 1.9% in the I patients and 8.1% +/- 2.1% in the C patients (P < .001). Blood glucose concentrations less than 3.5 mmol/L were more frequent in the I group than in the C group (P < .05). Insulin sensitivity (M/I) and GSCP were higher in intensively treated patients after 5 years (M/I, I group 40 +/- 10 nmol x kg(-1) x min(-1) x pmol/L1 v C group 21 +/- 11, P < .005; GSCP, I group 0.6 +/- 0.2 nmol/L v C group 0.19 +/- 0.11, P < .005). The prevalence of peripheral neuropathy was significantly lower in the I group at the end of the study. In conclusion, intensive therapy is more effective in the preservation of insulin action and reserve. In our patients, no case of severe hypoglycemia was observed, indicating that intensive therapy was safe in these patients.
In a double-blind, randomized, controlled study, the effectiveness of treatment with a combination of Benfotiamine (an Allithiamine, a lipid-soluble derivative of vitamin B1 with high bioavailability) plus vitamin B6/B12 on objective parameters of neuropathy was studied over a period of 12 weeks on 24 diabetic patients with diabetic polyneuropathy. The results showed a significant improvement (p = 0.006) of nerve conduction velocity in the peroneal nerve and a statistical trend toward improvement of the vibration perception threshold. Long-term observation of 9 patients with verum over a period of 9 months support the results. Therapy-specific adverse effects were not seen. The results of this double-blind investigation, of the long-term observation and of the reports in the literature support the contention that the neurotropic benfotiamine-vitamin B combination represents a starting point in the treatment of diabetic polyneuropathy.
Successful transplantation of encapsulated islets (bioartificial pancreas) would circumvent problems of islet availability and rejection in the treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes with biological organ replacement. Alginates are widely used as a hydrogel matrix or membrane for immunoprotected transplantation. A major problem in the use of diffusion-based devices is the biocompatibility of the material used. The foreign body reaction after implantation of empty microcapsules into different compartments in rats, dogs and pigs is evaluated in this article. However, biocompatibility of the bioartificial pancreas has three different aspects: reaction of the entrapped islet to the encapsulation technique and material; reaction of the recipient against the incorporated device ( = foreign body reaction); and finally the reaction of the recipient against the encapsulated islet ( = immunology of bioartificial pancreas). It is obvious from different experiments that even if foreign body reactions (reactions against material) are almost abolished the recipient may react against material released from the encapsulated islet. In conclusion, transplantation of encapsulated islets induces various morphological reactions (i.e. inflammation and fibrosis) as a result of a variety of donor and recipient related factors. Therefore, the use of an adequate animal model that reflects the human situation is essential for progress in the development of a bioartificial pancreas.
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We have previously shown that long-term administration of aminoguanidine, an inhibitor of advanced glycosylation product formation, reduces the extent of experimental diabetic retinopathy in the rat by 85%. In order to determine whether the residual retinopathy that developed despite aminoguanidine was attributable to advanced glycation endproduct formation, a time-course study was performed in three different groups of male Wistar rats: non-diabetic controls (NC), streptozotocin-diabetic controls (DC) and streptozotocin-diabetic rats treated with aminoguanidine HCL, 50 mg/100 ml drinking water (D-AG). Eyes were obtained at 24, 32, 44 and 56 weeks of diabetes/treatment duration and morphologic evaluation was done on retinal digest preparations. At 56 weeks, retinal basement membrane thickness was additionally measured. After 24 weeks of diabetes, the number of acellular capillaries was significantly elevated in DC (44.6 +/- 5.7/mm2 of retinal area, NC 19.6 +/- 4.9; p < 0.001) and increased continuously over time (DC 56 weeks 87.4 +/- 15.1; p < 0.001 vs DC24 weeks). In contrast, acellular capillaries in D-AG increased over the first 24 weeks and then remained constant for the rest of the study (D-AG 24 weeks 35.7 +/- 5.18; p < 0.01 vs NC 24 weeks and NS vs DC 24 weeks; D-AG 56 weeks 42.0 +/- 6.20; p NS vs D-AG 24 weeks).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Primary prevention with aminoguanidine-an inhibitor of advanced glycation end product (AGE) formation--has been successfully employed to prevent diabetic retinopathy in the rat. However, it is unknown whether inhibition of AGE formation is still effective in a secondary intervention strategy. The present study addresses this question by comparing secondary intervention with aminoguanidine with syngeneic islet transplantation in the rat model. After 6 months of diabetes, one group was treated with aminoguanidine (50 mg/100 ml drinking water; D-AG) while another group received syngeneic transplantation of collagenase-ficoll isolated islets by intraportal injection (Tx). After an additional 4 months, both groups were compared to a normal (NC 10) and diabetic (DC 10) control group. Retinal autofluorescence was increased 2.5-fold after 6 months and increased 3.7-fold after 10 months of diabetes (p < 0.001). Aminoguanidine and islet Tx retarded the further accumulation of autofluorescence equally (p < 0.001 vs DC 10), although the values were higher than those observed in DC at 6 months (p < 0.001). Diabetes was associated with a 2.7-fold increase in acellular capillaries after 6 months and a 4.1-fold increase after 10 months. Treatment with aminoguanidine or islet Tx reduced but did not completely attenuate the progression of vascular occlusion (p < 0.001 vs DC 10; D-AG vs DC 6, p < 0.05; Tx vs DC 6, p < 0.01). Both treatments reduced endothelial proliferation (22.4% after 10 months; p < 0.001) and completely arrested pericyte dropout (40% after 10 months; p < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The aim of the present experimental study in the rat heart was to assess cardiac performance and metabolism in mild diabetes of 2 months' duration (postprandial blood sugar levels of 307 +/- 101 mg/dl and nearly normal fasting blood glucose of 102 +/- 40 mg/dl) using the working rat heart model at physiological workload with a perfusion time of 60 min. We also compared the effect of two forms of therapy for diabetes, islet transplantation and insulin therapy (s.c.), after 2 months. A 36% reduction in glucose utilization is metabolically characteristic for the diabetic heart, mainly caused by a 55% reduced glucose uptake (P < 0.001), but also by a nearly twofold increased lactate and pyruvate production (P < 0.001). This reduced carbohydrate metabolism is accompanied by a 37% reduction of oxygen uptake (P < 0.001) as well as a significant reduction in myocardial ATP and CP levels (P < 0.001), resulting in a significantly reduced cardiac output (P < 0.001). Moreover, the balance of energy reveals that the diabetic heart obtains 46% of its energy requirements for 1 h from endogenous glycogen, whereas the control heart obtains 91% of its energy needs (i.e. preferentially) from exogenous glucose (only 9% from endogenous glycogen). Both investigated therapeutic interventions led to a complete reversibility of the hemodynamic and metabolic alterations, indicating that the cause of diabetic cardiomyopathy in this model of mild and short-term diabetes is due to a defect in cardiac carbohydrate metabolism, which is correctable by insulin administration.
Preservation of endogenous insulin in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) may prevent the occurrence of diabetes-related complications. Therefore, it is important to known about insulin reserve and insulin sensitivity at clinical manifestation. Twenty-four patients (aged 23 +/- 6 years) were evaluated for 2 years starting at the day of clinical manifestation. Insulin secretion was stimulated by glucagon, arginine, and glucose on separate days. Insulin sensitivity was evaluated by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. Two control groups were established, one consisting of age-, weight-, and sex-matched healthy individuals, the other of patients with diabetes of long duration (6 to 13 years). Sensitivity improved from 30% of normal at baseline to 84% after only 2 weeks in the newly manifested patients. Subsequently, insulin released by nonglucose stimuli increased by 75%. Glucose-induced first-phase insulin secretion did not recover. After 2 years, sensitivity was 20% less than normal and glucagon-stimulated C-peptide (GSCP) was 0.64 +/- 0.20 nmol/L (0.41 +/- 0.19 at baseline, P < .002). Insulin sensitivities in euglycemic and hyperglycemic conditions were closely correlated. In conclusion, improvement of insulin sensitivity precedes and is possibly a prerequisite for the recovery of residual insulin in early IDDM.
Streptozotocin-diabetes as a model for insulin-deficient Type 1 diabetes leads to cardiomyopathy, characterized by a 50% reduced glucose uptake (P < 0.001) and increased lactate and pyruvate levels (P < 0.001), i.e. a reduced glucose utilization by the heart. As thioctic acid (TA) has favourable effects on glucose metabolism, the influence of this drug at two different doses (0.1 mg/ml and 0.5 mg/ml, added to the perfusion medium) was investigated in the heart after 2 weeks of diabetes, using the working rat heart model at physiological workload about 45 min. TA at high doses led to a normalization of glucose uptake (P < 0.001) and glucose utilization, and consequently to a normalization of oxygen uptake (P < 0.001), myocardial ATP levels (P < 0.001) as well as cardiac output (P < 0.05). Whereas a low dose of TA resulted in a normalization of lactate and pyruvate production (P < 0.001), neither a normalization of glucose utilization nor of cardiac output was achieved by this low dosage. Additionally, TA improved at both doses utilization of endogenous glycogen in the diabetic heart (P < 0.001), the latter here already delivering 45% of the utilized glucose. TA acts especially by increasing glucose uptake, glycogen breakdown and glucose oxidation. Thus, metabolic and hemodynamic sequelae of insulin-deficiency in the heart can be corrected by TA. Due to its anti-diabetic effects on cardiac metabolism, TA could be considered an adjuvant therapy in diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Rat hearts induced diabetic by administration of streptozotocin were investigated after 8 months using the isolated perfused working rat heart model at a physiological workload of approximately 45 min. They are hemodynamically characterized by a significantly reduced cardiac output (p < 0.001) and metabolically by a 49% reduction in glucose utilization (p < 0.001), mainly caused by reduced glucose uptake (p < 0.001) and an increased lactate and pyruvate production (p < 0.001), associated with a reduction of oxygen consumption by 44% (p < 0.001). Both lead to reduced ATP and CP myocardial tissue levels (p < 0.001). Similar results with respect to cardiac performance and metabolism are observed already after 2 months of diabetes. Treating these rats after 2 months of diabetes with insulin for 6 months, cardiac output (ns), cardiac metabolism (ns), oxygen uptake (ns) as well as ATP and CP levels (ns) are restored, indicating that normalization of cardiac function in this model depends mainly on the restored cardiac metabolism. These findings were associated with changes in the angioarchitecture as demonstrated.
Despite experience, that has been obtained in the field of islet isolation in large mammals for about the past 20 years, allo- and autotransplantation of both human and porcine islets are still not routine procedures. The reasons for islet isolation and purification associated problems, which prevent a continuous isolation success and regular islet transplantation, can be categorized to variables related to 1) pancreas donor; 2) pancreas procurement; 3) isolation-techniques and 4) purification techniques. The development of porcine and human islet isolation was carried out by the authors since 1986. During this period several techniques for the isolation and purification of human and porcine islets were compared with regard to their influence on islet isolation outcome, integrity of islet morphology, islet in-vitro and in-vivo function: sequential vs continuous digestion-filtration, counterflow elutriation vs neutral density separation, conventional density gradient centrifugation vs Cobe cell separation and discontinuous vs continuous gradient purification. Furthermore, we analysed the influence of donor factors and variables related to organ procurement on islet isolation success. From this experience we concluded that successful porcine islet isolation is possible if islets of adult donors are isolated utilizing the continuous digestion-filtration following distension with UW-solution prior to a neutral density gradient purification on a Cobe. Human islets can be successfully isolated by digestion-filtration and purified utilizing a continuous Ficoll-sodium-diatrizoate gradient on a Cobe when intact pancreata are harvested after a secondary pancreatic warm ischemia time < 20 min from adult donors > 30 years.