Intraperitoneally implanted artificial pancrease with transkaryotic beta-cells on microcarrier beads in a diffusion chamber improves hyperglycemia after 90% pancreatectomy in rats.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Considering the difficulties in pancreas transplantation, the development of an artificial pancreas would be of great value. We have established a transkaryotic artificial beta-cell line, CHO/I, produced by transfecting the human proinsulin gene into the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line. The present study was designed to assess the value of an artificial pancreas using a diffusion chamber containing CHO/I cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar rats rendered diabetic by 90% pancreatectomy were treated by implanting a diffusion chamber containing CHO/I cells cultured on microcarrier beads. RESULTS: The diffusion chamber containing microcarrier beads produced 100-folds more CHO/I cells than the chamber alone, as calculated from the secreted IRI in vitro. When diffusion chambers containing CHO/I cells on microcarrier beads were implanted into the peritoneal cavity of the 90% pancreatectomized rats, the fasting serum IRI level increased and the fasting blood glucose decreased to the normal level for 12 weeks. An intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test demonstrated, however, that the diffusion-chamber-implanted rats did not respond to glucose loading. CONCLUSION: An artificial pancreas using a diffusion chamber containing human proinsulin gene transfected cells might be a promising model for future clinical application.