Nerve/glial antigen 2 is crucially involved in the revascularization of freely transplanted pancreatic islets.
Cell Tissue Res
; 378(2): 195-205, 2019 Nov.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31131431
ABSTRACT
Pancreatic islets are highly vascularized endocrine units. Accordingly, their adequate revascularization is of major importance for successful islet transplantation. The proteoglycan, nerve/glial antigen 2 (NG2) expressed in pericytes is a crucial regulator of angiogenesis. Therefore, we herein analyze whether this surface protein contributes to the revascularization of grafted islets. Islets were isolated from NG2+/+ (wild-type) and NG2-/- mice and their cellular composition was analyzed by immunohistochemical detection of insulin, glucagon, somatostatin and CD31. Moreover, insulin secretion was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, isolated islets were transplanted into dorsal skinfold chambers of wild-type mice and their revascularization was determined by intravital fluorescence microscopy and immunohistochemistry. NG2+/+ and NG2-/- islets did not differ in their cellular composition and insulin secretion. However, transplanted NG2-/- islets exhibited a significantly lower functional capillary density and a reduced number of CD31-positive microvessels. These findings demonstrate that the loss of NG2 impairs the revascularization of transplanted islets, underlining the importance of this pericytic proteoglycan for islet engraftment.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Proteoglicanos
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Trasplante de Islotes Pancreáticos
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Islotes Pancreáticos
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Neovascularización Fisiológica
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Pericitos
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Antígenos
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Cell Tissue Res
Año:
2019
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Alemania