Characterisation of human pancreatic mesenchymal stromal cells in type 1 diabetes
Authors' conclusion
pMSCs express ANXA1 constitutively, suggesting an islet-protective role in health. The density of pMSCs was increased around insulin-containing islets and lost around insulin-deficient islets in individuals with type 1 diabetes which aligns with this hypothesis. pMSC density at the periphery of insulin-containing islets was preferentially higher in individuals with later-onset type 1 diabetes, correlating with a less intense immune cell infiltration. The reduced ability of pMSCs to survive in the more intense proinflammatory environment around islets in younger-onset type 1 diabetes may contribute to the rapid rate of beta cell loss in these individuals.
Study context
- Population
- Human pancreas sections from donors (Network for Pancreatic Organ Donors with Diabetes and Exeter Archival Diabetes Biobank) with and without T1D
- Participants
- 38 donors
- Comparison
- T1D vs no diabetes
- <13 years at T1D diagnosisn = 8
- ≥13 years at T1D diagnosisn = 11
- Outcome
- Number, density and islet-protective phenotype of pMSCs in situ
Methodological detailsmultiplex immunohistochemistry, whole-slide scans, sex-matched controls
- Multiplex immunohistochemistry
- Whole-slide scans
- Sex-matched controls
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Pancreatic MSCs (pMSCs) identified
- 53,375
- Individual islets analysed
- 26,376
- pMSCs expressing annexin A1 (ANXA1) (constitutively, with or without diabetes)
- 33.2%
- pMSC density reduced around insulin-deficient vs insulin-containing islets in T1D
- p<0.001
Further findings
Culture-expanded mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) exposed to aggressive cytokine combination
- Increased cell death and reduced proliferation
Original publication
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