Genetic Engineering of a Suboptimal Islet Graft with A20 Preserves β Cell Mass and Function

Abstract

Transplantation of an excessive number of islets of Langerhans (two to four pancreata per recipient) into patients with type I diabetes is required to restore euglycemia. Hypoxia, nutrient deprivation, local inflammation, and the β cell inflammatory response (up-regulation of NF-κB-dependent genes such as inos) result in β cell destruction in the early post-transplantation period. Genetic engineering of islets with anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic genes may prevent β cell loss and primary nonfunction. We have shown in vitro that A20 inhibits NF-κB activation in islets and protects from cytokine- and death receptor-mediated apoptosis. In vivo, protection of newly transplanted islets would reduce the number of islets required for successful transplantation. Transplantation of 500 B6/AF1 mouse islets into syngeneic, diabetic recipients resulted in a cure rate of 100% within 5 days. Transplantation of 250 islets resulted in a cure rate of only 20%. Transplantation of 250 islets overexpressing A20 resulted in a cure rate of 75% with a mean time to cure of 5.2 days, comparable to that achieved with 500 islets. A20-expressing islets preserve functional β cell mass and are protected from cell death. These data demonstrate that A20 is an ideal cytoprotective gene therapy candidate for islet transplantation.