Islet Microvasculature Alterations With Loss of Beta-cells in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes. (January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Canzano, Joseph S.; Nasif, Lith H.; Butterworth, Elizabeth A.; Fu, Dongtao A.; Atkinson, Mark A.; Campbell-Thompson, Martha
• Is Part Of: Journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry. Volume 67:Number 1(2019:Jan.)
• Page Start: 41
• Page End: 52
• Publication Date: 2019-01
• Subjects: alpha-cell -- CD3 -- CD31 -- CD34 -- endothelium -- exocrine -- glucagon -- insulin -- microenvironment -- secretogranin 3 -- smooth muscle actin; Histochemistry -- Periodicals; Cytochemistry -- Periodicals; Histocytochemistry -- methods; Histological Techniques; 572.05
• DOI: 10.1369/0022155418778546
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1554

Abstract

Islet microvasculature provides key architectural and functional roles, yet the morphological features of islets from patients with type 1 diabetes are poorly defined. We examined islet and exocrine microvasculature networks by multiplex immunofluorescence imaging of pancreases from organ donors with and without type 1 diabetes ( n =17 and n =16, respectively) and determined vessel diameter, density, and area. We also analyzed these variables in insulin-positive and insulin-negative islets of 7 type 1 diabetes donors. Control islet vessel diameter was significantly larger (7.6 ± 1.1 μm) compared with vessels in diabetic islets (6.2 ± 0.8 μm; p <0.001). Control islet vessel density (number/islet) was significantly lower (5.3 ± 0.6) versus diabetic islets (9.3 ± 0.2; p <0.001). Exocrine vessel variables were not significantly different between groups. Islets with residual beta-cells were comparable to control islets for both vessel diameter and density and were significantly different from insulin-negative islets within diabetic donors ( p <0.05). Islet smooth muscle actin area had a significant positive correlation with age in both groups ( p <0.05), which could negatively impact islet transplantation efficiency from older donors. These data underscore the critical relationship of islet beta-cells and islet vessel morphology in type 1 diabetes. These studies provide new knowledge of the islet microvasculature in diabetes and aging.