Quantitative Assessment of Islet Cell Products: Estimating the Accuracy of the Existing Protocol and Accounting for Islet Size Distribution

Autor: Peter Buchwald, Xiaojing Wang, Aisha Khan, Andres Bernal, Chris Fraker, Luca Inverardi, Camillo Ricordi
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2009
Předmět:
Zdroj: Cell Transplantation, Vol 18 (2009)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 0963-6897
1555-3892
DOI: 10.3727/096368909X476968
Popis: The ability to consistently and reliably assess the total number and the size distribution of isolated pancreatic islet cells from a small sample is of crucial relevance for the adequate characterization of islet cell preparations used for research or transplantation purposes. Here, data from a large number of isolations were used to establish a continuous probability density function describing the size distribution of human pancreatic islets. This function was then used to generate a polymeric microsphere mixture with a composition resembling those of isolated islets, which, in turn, was used to quantitatively assess the accuracy, reliability, and operator-dependent variability of the currently utilized manual standard procedure of quantification of islet cell preparation. Furthermore, on the basis of the best fit probability density function, which corresponds to a Weibull distribution, a slightly modified scale of islet equivalent number (IEQ) conversion factors is proposed that incorporates the size distribution of islets and accounts for the decreasing probability of finding larger islets within each size group. Compared to the current calculation method, these factors introduce a 4–8% downward correction of the total IEQ estimate, but they reflect a statistically more accurate contribution of differently sized islets.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals