Solubilized Pancreatic Extracellular Matrix from Juvenile Pigs Protects Isolated Human Islets from Hypoxia-Induced Damage: A Viable Option for Clinical Islet Transplantation

The pancreatic extracellular matrix (ECM) is an enormously complex construct. Previous studies underline the challenges to identify optimal combinations and ratios of individual ECM proteins for promoting survival function isolated transplanted islets. This study aimed on assessing efficiency solubilized natural extracted from juvenile pigs, unlimited donor source. Isolated human islets were cultured under a hypoxic atmosphere (2% oxygen) in media supplemented with either porcine (ppECM) or mixture composed collagen-IV, laminin-521, nidogen-1 (hEPM). Control identical conditions without ECM-compounds. Reactive oxygen species production increased three-fold controls but was reduced by hEPM ppECM. Early apoptosis remained preculture levels when treated Preculture viability preserved ppECM administered. Whilst failed respond glucose challenge, treatment physiological insulin response. In summary, overall significantly highest ppECM-treated presents new approach protect hypoxia-induced damage supplementing findings may also serve as starting point novel encapsulation technique