Pancreatic islet separation method, and protective solution for protecting pancreatic islet tissue

Abstract

The disclosed pancreatic islet separation method comprises: an injection step wherein a protective solution is injected into the pancreatic duct of an extracted pancreas; a preservation step wherein the pancreas is immersed into an immersion fluid and preserved; a digestion step wherein the pancreas is broken down and pancreatic tissue is obtained; and a purification step wherein the pancreatic tissue is immersed in a purification solution and pancreatic islets are obtained. The digestion step comprises: an enzyme injection step wherein an enzyme solution containing digestion enzymes is injected into the pancreas; a digestion initiation step wherein the digestion enzymes are activated; a digestion termination step wherein the digestion enzymes are de-activated; and a collection step wherein the broken down pancreatic tissue is collected. The pancreatic islet separation method is characterised in that, by adding a neutrophil elastase inhibitor to the system before the digestion initiation step, the neutrophil elastase inhibitor is present inside the pancreas at the point when the digestion initiation step is commenced. Also, by using a protective solution which can be used in the above method, pancreatic islets having a size and shape suitable for transplanting can be obtained in high yields.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a method for isolating transplantable islets from pancreas and a protective solution for protecting islet tissue in the isolating method. Background technique [0002] As a radical cure for type 1 diabetes, there is, for example, pancreas transplantation in which the pancreas itself is transplanted from a brain-dead patient. The above-mentioned pancreas transplantation can be freed from insulin and the like by only one transplantation, and the effect is good. However, the surgical procedure is complicated and may cause complications along with blood circulation reconstruction, so there is a problem that it places a heavy burden on the patient's body. Therefore, in recent years, islet transplantation has attracted attention as a new radical cure method for diabetes. Islet transplantation is a method in which islets, which are insulin or glucagon-secreting tissues that regulate blood sugar hormones, are separated from t...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, the existing methods usually suffer physical damage such as tearing of islet cells during the isolation process, and it is not possible to stably obtain islets of the size and shape that can secrete sufficient insulin after transplantation with the required yield.

In addition, in Patent Document 1, ulinastatin used as a protease inhibitor is a biologically derived preparation made from human urine, and there are also problems of high risk to living organisms and lack of safety.

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