Bio-Engineering of Pre-Vascularized Islet Organoids for the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes

Lack of rapid revascularization and inflammatory attacks at the site of transplantation contribute to impaired islet engraftment and suboptimal metabolic control after clinical islet transplantation. In order to overcome these limitations and enhance engraftment and revascularization, we have generated and transplanted pre-vascularized insulin-secreting organoids composed of rat islet cells, human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs), and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Our study demonstrates that pre-vascularized islet organoids exhibit enhanced in vitro function compared to native islets, and, most importantly, better engraftment and improved vascularization in vivo in a murine model. This is mainly due to cross-talk between hAECs, HUVECs and islet cells, mediated by the upregulation of genes promoting angiogenesis (vegf-a) and beta cell function (glp-1r, pdx1). The possibility of adding a selected source of endothelial cells for the neo-vascularization of insulin-scereting grafts may also allow implementation of beta cell replacement therapies in more favourable transplantation sites than the liver.

Automated summary

Lack of rapid revascularization and inflammatory attacks contribute to poor outcomes after clinical islet transplantation. In a study using pre-vascularized islet organoids, enhanced in vitro function, better engraftment, and improved vascularization were observed, mainly due to cross-talk between different cell types and upregulation of genes promoting angiogenesis and beta cell function.