Effect of basic fibroblast growth factor on insulin secretion from microencapsulated pancreatic islets: An in vitro study

Microencapsulation of pancreatic islets represents a potentially effective method to prevent graft rejection in allotransplantation or xenotransplanta tion without the need of immunosuppression. Adequate insulin secretion and glucose responsiveness of microencapsulated pancreatic islets has been rega rded as a prerequisite for successful transplantation. The microencapsulate d pancreatic islets were respectively cultured in bFGF+ RPMI-1640 medium (b FGF+) or bFGF-RPMI-1640 medium (bFGF-) for 21 days. The functional activiti es of microencapsulated pancreatic islets were assessed by measuring basal insulin secretion and stimulated insulin release at different time points. The results revealed that microencapsulated pancreatic islets in the presen ce of bFGF demonstrated an increase in basal insulin secretion. Furthermore , microencapsulated pancreatic islets in the presence of bFGF demonstrated a marked stimulated insulin release and relative stability of stimulation i ndices (SI). The results in the perifusion study showed that microencapsula ted pancreatic islets in the presence of bFGF maintained good glucose respo nsiveness over the course of culture period as well. These results indicate that bFGF has a beneficial effect on insulin secretion from microencapsula ted pancreatic islets during in vitro culture. New strategies for preservin g and improving function of microencapsulated pancreatic islets prior to tr ansplantation may be developed by application of growth factors or other fa ctors.