Improvement of human pancreatic islet quality after co-culture with human adipose-derived stem cells.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether co-culture of human islets with adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) can improve islet quality and to evaluate which factors play a role in the protective effect of ASCs against islet dysfunction. Islets and ASCs were cultured in three experimental groups for 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h: 1) indirect co-culture of islets with ASC monolayer (Islets/ASCs); 2) islets alone; and 3) ASCs alone. Co-culture with ASCs improved islet viability and function in all culture time-points analyzed.

The A allele of the UCP2 -866G/A polymorphism changes UCP2 promoter activity in HUVECs treated with high glucose.

The mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) decreases reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation by mitochondria. Our group previously showed that the UCP2 -866A allele was associated with risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR), which is caused by hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress. To date, it is still unclear if the -866A allele directly affects UCP2 expression in endothelial cells.