Insulin-Like Growth Factor-II (IGF-II) Prevents Proinflammatory Cytokine-Induced Apoptosis and Significantly Improves Islet Survival After Transplantation

Amy Hughes, Daisy Mohanasundaram, Svjetlana Kireta, Claire F. Jessup, Chris J. Drogemuller, P. Toby H. Coates

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    18 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Background: The early loss of functional islet mass (50Y70%) due to apoptosis after clinical transplantation contributes to islet allograft failure. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II is an antiapoptotic protein that is highly expressed in β-cells during development but rapidly decreases in postnatal life. 

    Methods: We used an adenoviral (Ad) vector to overexpress IGF-II in isolated rat islets and investigated its antiapoptotic action against exogenous cytokines interleukin-1β- and interferon-γ-induced islet cell death in vitro. Using an immunocompromised marginal mass islet transplant model, the ability of Ad-IGF-IIYtransduced rat islets to restore euglycemia in nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient diabetic recipients was assessed. 

    Results: Ad-IGF-II transduction did not affect islet viability or function. Ad-IGF-II cytokine-treated islets exhibited decreased cell death (40%±2.8%) versus Ad-GFP and untransduced control islets (63.2%±2.5% and 53.6%±2.3%, respectively). Ad-IGF-II overexpression during cytokine treatment resulted in a marked reduction in terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferaseYmediated dUTP nick end labelingYpositive apoptotic cells (8.3%±1.4%) versus Ad-GFP control (41%±4.2%) and untransduced control islets (46.5%±6.2%). Western blot analysis confirmed that IGF-II inhibits apoptosis via activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway. Transplantation of IGF-II overexpressing islets under the kidney capsule of diabetic mice restored euglycemia in 77.8% of recipients compared with 18.2% and 47.5% of Ad-GFP and untransduced control islet recipients, respectively (PG0.05, log-rank [MantelYCox] test). 

    Conclusions: Antiapoptotic IGF-II decreases apoptosis in vitro and significantly improved islet transplant outcomes in vivo. Antiapoptotic gene transfer is a potentially powerful tool to improve islet survival after transplantation.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)671-678
    Number of pages8
    JournalTransplantation
    Volume95
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 15 Mar 2013

    Keywords

    • β-Cells
    • Apoptosis
    • Gene therapy
    • Insulin-like growth factor-II
    • Islet transplantation

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