APPLICATION OF A NOVEL B-CELL LINE MIN6 TO A MESH-REINFORCED POLYVINYL-ALCOHOL HYDROGEL TUBE AND 3-LAYER AGAROSE MICROCAPSULES - AN IN-VITRO STUDY

This study examines the function of a novel B cell line (MIN6) enclose d in a hybrid bioartificial pancreas with mesh-reinforced polyvinyl al cohol hydrogel tube (MRPT) or with improved, three-layer agarose micro capsules. MIN6 was established from insulinomas obtained by targeted e xpression of the simian virus 40 T-antigen gene in transgenic mice. MI N6 retains the ability to secrete insulin in response to physiological glucose concentrations. The MRPT and the three-layer agarose microcap sules, which were developed to act as an artificial pancreas, were rea dily permeated by insulin, glucose, and other nutrients. Both can immu noisolate enclosed MIN6 cells from the recipient's humoral and cellula r immunosystems, which cause a xenogeneic rejection response. MIN6 cel ls (5.0 x 10(6) or 1.5 x 10(6)) were enclosed in MRPT or in a hundred three-layer microcapsules and subjected to an in vitro perifusion stud y or a static incubation study to observe the insulin release from eac h bioartificial pancreas in response to glucose stimulation. In vitro study revealed that the insulin secretion in response to 16.7 mM gluco se stimulation was twice that with 3.3 mM glucose stimulation with bot h MRPT and the three-layer agarose microcapsules. The present study de monstrates that MIN6 effectively functions as a bioreactor for the hyb rid bioartificial pancreas. The application of MIN6 cells to the hybri d bioartificial pancreas may offer a solution to the current serious d earth of organs.