Inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase protects human islets from cryoinjury and improves the yield, viability, and quality of frozen-thawed islets

Transplant Proc. 2005 Oct;37(8):3422-3. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2005.09.089.

Abstract

The development of an optimal islet cryopreservation method will permit transplantation of islets from multiple donors in a single procedure and contribute to alleviation of the islet shortage. In this study, we have improved human islet cryopreservation methods under serum-free conditions using an intracellular-based islet cryopreservation solution (ICS), especially supplemented with a p38 pathway inhibitor (p38IH) to suppress p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation. Three different solutions were compared for freezing and thawing of human islets (1) conventional RPMI1640 medium, (2) ICS, and (3) ICS supplemented with a p38IH, SD-282 (ICS-p38IH). Islet cryopreservation with ICS-p38IH significantly improved islet recovery, viability, and quality after thawing of cryopreserved islets. This improvement may allow the use of cryopreserved islets in clinical islet transplantation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cell Survival
  • Cryopreservation / methods*
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Humans
  • Islets of Langerhans / cytology*
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases