Background and It is thought that transplantation of islet cells would cure diabetic patients in world. Islet cells transplantation in people suffering from diabetes is of technical interest. A standardized procedure was developed for the preparation of rat islet cell grafts for purification of islet cells. In this process, after collagens digestion of pancreases, islets were isolated and dissociated, then with enzymatic procedure by DNase and trypsin, the islet cells changed in to single cells and these cells were assayed by flow cytometery. Flow cytometery of these cells indicated that there were 91% of beta cells in cell suspension. Most of the exocrine particles were lost during digestion. Purified endocrine islet cell grafts were prepared by pure beta-cells, with or without endocrine non-beta cells. The purified aggregates were devoid of non-endocrine cells and damaged cells.

Hyperinsulinism is responsible for about 55% of hypoglycemia in children less than 1 year old. In this study pancreas from 8 children with idiopathic hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy(HHI) who underwent pancreatectomy in Ali-Asghar Hospital from 10 years ago were examined, using histochemical method and morphometric measurements. The children ranged from 3 to 13 months, and were presented with seizure. They all had positive glucagon test and high serum ins/glu ratio and were unresponsive to medical therapy(Diazoxide, Somatostatin or Hidrocortisone). Sections were studied with particular reference to islet cell distribution in patients and controls. Quantitative assessments were made of islet size and total surface area of pancreas occupied by endocrine tissue. Four patients had diffuse islet cell hyperplasia and others showed multifocal islet cell hyperplasia, islet cell dysplasia, adenoma and normal pancreas, respectively. Immunostaining can show any recapitulation of islet structure or increase of B cells. Furthermore, frozen section study during surgery can help to distinguish different pathologies of HHI.

Background and Although it is now certain that insulin injection allows us to control the complications resulting from blood sugar imbalances, its accurate control by insulin injection is difficult. Therefore as a logical solution, transplantation of islet cells is globally considered as a treatment and the present study is conducted to verify it. Methods and Materials: After materials preparation, donor tissue was obtained from 6 male wistar rate cage 75-90 days (weight 250-300 gram). Transplantation was done on diabetic rate induced 2-4 weeks earlier by 60 mg/kg streptozotocin intravenous injection. After islet cells transplantation, blood glucose was reduced to normal (145±5 mg/dl) and insulin and C-peptide increased (1.9±0.1 MIU/L and 0.053±0.001 mg/ml respectively). Clinical symptoms of dibetes induction were relieved after transplantation. The technique of islet cells transplantation in the form of encapsulation with the absence of immunological inhibitors to support the graft against the recipient's immunity system is an innovative method to treat type I diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a T-cell mediated autoimmune disorder in which pancreas beta-cell destruction causes insulin deficiency and hyperglycemia. In addition to daily insulin treatment, allogeneic islet transplant inT1D is another therapeutic way that needs immunosuppressive drugs to control autoimmune damage and graft rejection. Since life-long application of these drugs is associated with serious side-effects, we proposed local immunomodulatory effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro inhibitory influence of adipose-derived MSCs on C57BL/6 diabetic mouse splenocytes proliferation against syngeneic islet cells lysate. MSCs were extracted from abdominal fat tissue of healthy C57BL/6 mouse and cultured to prolipherate. Then, they were immunophynotyped and their differentiation to osteo- and adipocyte was approved. Diabetic C57BL/6 mouse model was prepared by administration of consecutive low-doses of sterptozotocin and diabetic state was confirmed by serum glucose (>300 mg/dL) and insulin levels, and pancreas histopathology. Pancreas islets were isolated from healthy mouse and splenocytes prepared from healthy and diabetic mice. To evaluate anti-proliferative effect of MSCs, they were co-cultured with splenocytes in the presence of islet lysate and proliferation was assayed by MTT technique. The presented data are mean SD and statistically analyzed with one way ANOVA. Extraction and identification (Immunolphenotyping and differentiation) of MSCs had acceptable outcome.Diabetic state was confirmedin our model (blood glucose: 300±20 vs. 95±10; Insulin level: 4.9±0.5 vs 0.3±0.1; and lack of Langerhans islets in tissue sections). The co-culture experiments demonstrated that MSCs significantly decreased diabetic splenocytes proliferation in the presence of islet cells lysate (p<0.05). MSCs can effectively inhibit autoimmune response of diabetic splenocytes against islet cells lysate. Assessing MSCs immunomodulatory effects and differentiation property to insulin-producing cells may provide a new horizon for T1D treatment in the future.

Many researches have been conducted on islet cell's transplantation for a definitive treatment of diabetes mellitus type1. As the viability of the islets is the most important factor in predicting the transplantation prognosis, we have designed a study to isolate rat's islets. The aim of the study was to assess the viability of the islets at different stages and suggest the best transplantation time. Pancreatic islets were isolated from male rats (250-300gr) by standard surgical procurement followed by intraductal HBSS distension, chopping and digestion with collagenase (type V). After being centrifuged for 3 times, the islets were then hand-picked and incubated in 37oC with RPMI 1640 media for 6 days. Each well contained 35-45 islets. Viability of islets was assessed by 2 independent investigators, giving score 0-2 to the color of islets under florescent microscope after Propidium iodide/Acridine orange staining at 6 times: just after the incubation, 24h, 48h, 3rd day, 5th and 6th day. The viability of the islet cells was gradually increased after the incubation as we had the most viability rate after the second day, while it decreased after this period and reached the least rate on the 5th and 6th day. The islet's viability increased following the cell culture after the isolation procedure, as they have the best condition for transplantation after 48 hours. As the islets’ viability is the most critical point in transplantation, further studies evaluating the effects of different interventions on viability is needed.

Many researches have been conducted on islet cell's transplantation for a definitive treatment of diabetes mellitus type1. As the viability of the islets is the most important factor in predicting the transplantation prognosis, we have designed a study to isolate rat's islets. The aim of the study was to assess the viability of the islets at different stages and suggest the best transplantation time.
Pancreatic islets were isolated from male rats (250-300gr) by standard surgical procurement followed by intraductal HBSS distension, chopping and digestion with collagenase (type V). After being centrifuged for 3 times, the islets were then hand-picked and incubated in 37oC with RPMI 1640 media for 6 days. Each well contained 35-45 islets. Viability of islets was assessed by 2 independent investigators, giving score 0-2 to the color of islets under florescent microscope after Propidium iodide/Acridine orange staining at 6 times: just after the incubation, 24h, 48h, 3rd day, 5th and 6th day.
The viability of the islet cells was gradually increased after the incubation as we had the most viability rate after the second day, while it decreased after this period and reached the least rate on the 5th and 6th day.
The islet's viability increased following the cell culture after the isolation procedure, as they have the best condition for transplantation after 48 hours. As the islet's viability is the most critical point in transplantation, further studies evaluating the effects of different interventions on viability is needed.

Pancreatic islet transplantation has been reported as an appropriate method for treatment of type I diabetes patients, however there are strong indications that cytokine and chemokines secreted from transplanted islets play an important role in islet graft rejection in different stage post-transplantation. The NF-kB signaling pathway is activated in response to the stress resulted from isolation and purification process of pancreatic islets. Secretion and release of inflammatory mediators, including MCP-1, result from activation of this pathway which plays important part in activation of inflammatory processes accelerating graft rejection. This study was performed to examine the effect of curcumin on secretion of inflammatory mediators and function of pancreatic islets. We observed that curcumin significantly decreased MCP-1 release from mouse islets compared to the control group and had no effect on function of pancreatic islets. Investigating the stimulatory signals leading to production and secretion of inflammatory mediators from pancreatic islets and discovering their underlying mechanisms will be useful in finding new therapeutic interventions for blocking inflammatory pathways and improvement in outcome of islet cell transplantation.

Pancreatic islet transplantation has been reported as an appropriate method for treatment of type I diabetes patients, however there are strong indications that cytokine and chemokines secreted from transplanted islets play an important role in islet graft rejection in different stage post-transplantation. The NF-kB signaling pathway is activated in response to the stress resulted from isolation and purification process of pancreatic islets. Secretion and release of inflammatory mediators, including MCP-1, result from activation of this pathway which plays important part in activation of inflammatory processes accelerating graft rejection.
This study was performed to examine the effect of curcumin on secretion of inflammatory mediators and function of pancreatic islets.
We observed that curcumin significantly decreased MCP-1 release from mouse islets compared to the control group and had no effect on function of pancreatic islets.
Investigating the stimulatory signals leading to production and secretion of inflammatory mediators from pancreatic islets and discovering their underlying mechanisms will be useful in finding new therapeutic interventions for blocking inflammatory pathways and improvement in outcome of islet cell transplantation.

MEN-I is a rare genetic disorder classically characterized by a predisposition to tumors of the parathyroid glands, anterior pituitary gland, and pancreatic islet cells. We present a case of MEN-I syndrome diagnosed using predominantly nuclear medicine imaging followed by radionuclide therapy, thus emphasizing the role of nuclear imaging in diagnosing and treating MEN-I..

Recent advances in directed differentiation of pancreatic stem cells offers potential to the development of replacement therapy for diabetic patients. However, the existing differentiation protocols are complex, time-consuming, and costly; thus there is a need for alternative protocols. Today, co-culturing with pancreatic islets is apparently a promising protocol for producing beta cells. Furthermore, we need keep islets viable in vitro for extended time periods.
We maintained isolated pancreatic islets obtained from the mouse pancreas in tissue culture for 2 weeks, after which we studied the viability, proliferation and morphology of the islets. Pancreatic islets were isolated from overnight-fasted male NMRI mice by Lacy and Kostianovsky modified collagenase digestion method and islets were tested for their specificity by dithizone (DTZ) staining. Also, islet cell viability was tested by MTT assay.
Our results showed that viable pancreatic islets can be isolated from the pancreas of adult mice and maintained in tissue culture for at least 1 week, without loss of the specific functions of the cells. Cell viability of pancreatic islets was decreased after one week and also, the cell number decreased over time. Cell viability and cell number were decrease if cells were incubated for long time.
It remains to be established whether such islets will survive and remain functionally competent after co culturing. Survey of viability of pancreatic islets is necessary in in vitro, because these were used for cell therapy for diabetes.