Islet Microvasculature Alterations With Loss of Beta-cells in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes

Islet microvasculature provides key architectural and functional roles, yet the morphological features of islets from patients with type 1 diabetes are poorly defined. We examined islet and exocrine microvasculature networks by multiplex immunofluorescence imaging of pancreases from organ donors with and without type 1 diabetes (n=17 and n=16, respectively) and determined vessel diameter, density, and area. We also analyzed these variables in insulin-positive and insulin-negative islets of 7 type 1 diabetes donors. Control islet vessel diameter was significantly larger (7.6 +/- 1.1 mu m) compared with vessels in diabetic islets (6.2 +/- 0.8 mu m; p<0.001). Control islet vessel density (number/islet) was significantly lower (5.3 +/- 0.6) versus diabetic islets (9.3 +/- 0.2; p<0.001). Exocrine vessel variables were not significantly different between groups. Islets with residual beta-cells were comparable to control islets for both vessel diameter and density and were significantly different from insulin-negative islets within diabetic donors (p<0.05). Islet smooth muscle actin area had a significant positive correlation with age in both groups (p<0.05), which could negatively impact islet transplantation efficiency from older donors. These data underscore the critical relationship of islet beta-cells and islet vessel morphology in type 1 diabetes. These studies provide new knowledge of the islet microvasculature in diabetes and aging.