Improving islet transplants
A number of our projects are directed towards improving the outcome of pancreatic islet transplants as a treatment for Type 1 Diabetes. This is a procedure in which donated insulin-producing cells (beta cells in the islets of Langerhans) are transplanted near to the liver of someone with Type 1 Diabetes. These are the cells that are destroyed in diabetes so replacing them essentially restores blood glucose control, otherwise unachievable without insulin injections.
Islet transplants are a remarkable achievement and have made a huge difference to many people suffering from severe forms of Type 1 Diabetes. However, there are a number of aspects that could be improved, and that is where our research is focused.
Islets are transplanted to regions of low oxygen and are not able to form new vascular links for a number of days. This hypoxia can be very damaging to the transplanted cells. Michelle investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in the response of insulin secreting cells to low oxygen. She determined that although hypoxia reduced the function of these cells, it was possible to fully revive them if they weren’t deprived of oxygen for too long. Therefore, she started to investigate novel methods that might help transplanted islets form new blood vessels, quicker.
Even with the improving success of islet transplants there are simply not enough cells available to transplant. James’s PhD focused on developing novel cell culture scaffolds, which would be able to support the growth of stem cells. Stem cells have the potential to become any cell type in the body; however, methods of growing them are very expensive. Being able to grow more cells in a smaller volume of expensive culture media offers a real advantage. James investigated a 3-dimensional scaffold that would hold the growth of significantly more cells than an equivalent 2-dimensional dish. He also looked into modifying these scaffolds in order to improve cell growth and functionality.