Mesenteric lymph nodes as alternative site for pancreatic islet transplantation in a diabetic rat model

BACKGROUND: Islet transplantation has progressively become a safe alternative to pancreas transplantation for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. However, the long-term results of islet transplantation could be significantly increased by improving the quality of the islet isolation technique even exploring alternative islet transplantation sites to reduce the number of islets required to mitigate hyperglycemia. The goal of the study was to test the lymph node as a suitable anatomical location for islet engraftment in a rodent model. METHODS: Forty Lewis rats, 6–8 weeks old, body weight 250–300 g, have been used as islet donors and recipients in syngeneic islet transplantation experiments. Ten rats were rendered diabetic by one injection of 65 mg/Kg of streptozotocin. After pancreas retrieval from non diabetic donors, islet were isolated and transplanted in the mesenteric lymph nodes of 7 diabetic rats. Rats were followed for 30 days after islet transplantation. RESULTS: A total of 7 islet transplantations in mesenteric lymph nodes have been performed. Two rats died 24 and 36 h after transplantation due to complications. No transplanted rat acquired normal glucose blood levels and insulin independence after the transplantation. However, the mean blood levels of glycemia were significantly lower in transplanted rats compared with diabetic rats (470.4 mg/dl vs 605 mg/dl, p 0.04). Interestingly, transplanted rats have a significant weight increase after transplantation compared to diabetic rats (mean value 295 g in transplanted rats vs 245 g in diabetic rats, p < 0.05), with an overall improvement of social activities and health. Immunohistochemical analysis of the 5 mesenteric lymph nodes of transplanted rats demonstrated the presence of living islets in one lymph node. CONCLUSIONS: Although islet engraftment in lymph nodes is possible, islet transplantation in lymph nodes in rats resulted in few improvements of glucose parameters.