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A protocol to create gene modified human pseudoislets from dispersed human islet cells that are transduced by lentivirus carrying short hairpin RNA (shRNA) is presented. This protocol utilizes readily available enzyme and culture vessels, can be performed easily, and produces genetically modified human pseudoislets suitable for functional and morphological studies.
Various genetic tools are available to modulate genes in pancreatic islets of rodents to dissect function of islet genes for diabetes research. However, the data obtained from rodent islets are often not fully reproduced in or applicable to human islets due to well-known differences in islet structure and function between the species. Currently, techniques that are available to manipulate gene expression of human islets are very limited. Introduction of transgene into intact islets by adenovirus, plasmid, and oligonucleotides often suffers from low efficiency and high toxicity. Low efficiency is especially problematic in gene downregulation studies in intact islets, which require high efficiency. It has been known that enzymatically-dispersed islet cells reaggregate in culture forming spheroids termed pseudoislets. Size-controlled reaggregation of human islet cells creates pseudoislets that maintain dynamic first phase insulin secretion after prolonged culture and provide a window to efficiently introduce lentiviral short hairpin RNA (shRNA) with low toxicity. Here, a detailed protocol for the creation of human pseudoislets after lentiviral transduction using two commercially available multiwell plates is described. The protocol can be easily performed and allows for efficient downregulation of genes and assessment of dynamism of insulin secretion using human islet cells. Thus, human pseudoislets with lentiviral mediated gene modulation provide a powerful and versatile model to assess gene function within human islet cells.
The loss of functional beta cell mass is the central pathology for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes1. While beta cells are the producers of insulin in pancreatic islets, communication between beta cells and non-beta cells plays a critical role in the regulation of insulin secretion2. In addition, dysregulation of glucagon secretion contributes to hyperglycemia in diabetes3. Thus, there is strong interest to modulate gene expression of cells within pancreatic islets to address the mechanism behind the development of islet dysfunction in diabetes. A variety of approaches including transgenic mice are....
Prior to commencement of studies, a human subjects research determination was made by the University of Iowa Institutional Review Board, who determined that the study did not meet the criteria for human subjects research. Consult the local review board before the initiation of the study to determine if the source of islets and planned study requires prior approval.
NOTE: Typically, 1,200−1,400 islet equivalent (IEQ) of human islets are required for the formation of 192 p.......
Figure 1 illustrates key steps in the production of pseudoislets using a 96-well ultra-low attachment plate and a microwell culture plate. Figure 2a shows sequential changes in morphology during the formation of pseudoislets from 3 x 103 human islet cells in a 96-well ultra-low attachment plate. Monolayer or loose clumps of cells observed in day 1 changed into solid aggregates with a smooth, round border by day 5 to 7 .......
Here, a detailed protocol to generate human pseudoislets that are transduced by lentivirus using a 96-well ultra-low attachment plate or a microwell culture plate is presented. Pseudoislets have been reported to demonstrate morphology and secretory functions similar to native human islets and can be cultured for prolonged time in vitro5,11,18. Unlike native human islets that show a wide variation in size, pseudoislets are relati.......
This work was financially supported by National Institutes of Health to Y.I. (R01-DK090490) and American Diabetes Association to Y.I. (1-17-IBS-132). J.A. and Y.I. are supported by the Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center. A.B. is supported by a National Institutes of Health training grant (T32NS45549). Authors utilized human pancreatic islets provided by the NIDDK-funded Integrated Islet Distribution Program (IIDP) at City of Hope (2UC4DK098085).
....Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
Anti-adherence rinsing solution | Stemcell technologies | 7919 | |
Biological safety cabinet | Thermo Scientific | 1300 Series Type A2 | |
cell strainer, 40 micrometer | Corning | 431750 | |
CMRL-1066 | ThermoFisher | 11530037 | |
CO2 incubator | Thermo Scientific | Heracell VIOS 160i | |
conical centrifuge tube, 15 mL | VWR | 89039-666 | |
conical centrifuge tube, 50 mL | VWR | 89039-658 | |
fetal bovine serum | ThermoFisher | 26140079 | |
guanidinium thiocyanate RNA extraction reagent | ThermoFisher | 15596026 | Trizol |
glutamine | ThermoFisher | 25030164 | |
Hemocytometer | Marien Feld | Neubauer-Improved Bright line | |
Human serum albumin | Sigma | A1653 | |
inverted microscope | Fisher brand | 11-350-119 | |
microcentrifuge | Beckman Coulter | Microfuge 20 | |
microcentrifuge tube, 1.5 mL | USA Scientific | 1615-5500 | |
microwell culture plate | Stemcell technologies | 34411 | Aggrewell 400, 24 well |
motor-driven pestle | GAMUT | #399X644 | |
non-tissue culture treated dish, 10 cm | Fisher Scientific | FB0875713 | |
PBS | ThermoFisher | 14190250 | |
Penicillin-streptomycin | ThermoFisher | 10378016 | |
Petri dish, 35 mm | Celltreat | 229638 | |
pipette, 5 mL | DOT Scientific, | 667205B | |
pipette, 8-channel | VWR | #613-5253 | |
pipette, 10 mL | VWR | 667210B | |
pipette, P10 | Denville | UEZ-P-10 | |
pipette, P200 | Denville | UEZ-P-200 | |
pipette, P1000 | Denville | UEZ-P-1000 | |
proteolytic and collagenolytic enzyme mixture | Sigma | A6965 | Accutase |
reagent reservoir, 50 mL | VWR | 89094-680 | |
reversible strainer, 37 micrometer | Stemcell technologies | 27251 | |
swing bucket plate centrifuge | Beckman Coulter | Allegra X-14R | |
swing bucket rotor | Beckman Coulter | SX4750A | |
tuberculin syringe, 1 mL | BD | 309659 | |
ultra low attachment microplate, 96 well | Corning | 4515 |
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