Background: The influence of the preservation solution used for in situ perfusion of the donor and pancreas storage on islet isolation has received little attention.
Methods: In this prospective controlled trial, we compared the outcome of human islet isolation from pancreata perfused with University of Wisconsin (UW) solution or Celsior, an alternative colloid-free extracellular solution.
Results: At the 1-year interim analysis, the viability and insulin secretion of islets isolated from donors perfused with UW (n=19) or Celsior (n=5) were identical. However, total islet recovery (IEQ) and isolation yield (IEQ/g) were 1.8-fold and 2.1-fold inferior in the Celsior group (P<0.05 vs. UW). Overall, 13 (68%) of islet preparations were effectively transplanted from the UW group vs. none from the Celsior group (P=0.01). The clinical study was discontinued and the causes of these differences were further explored in the pig (n=14). In contrast to UW, Celsior induced cell swelling and pancreas edema after only four hours of cold storage. These abnormalities were delayed when the donor was perfused with Solution de Conservation d'Organes et de Tissus (SCOT), an extracellular solution containing polyethylene glycol.
Conclusions: Our results suggest that colloid-free preservation solutions might be suboptimal for pancreas perfusion and cold storage prior to islet isolation and transplantation. Because pancreata are now frequently recovered for islet transplantation, preliminary experimental and clinical data about islet isolation should be obtained prior to the routine implementation of new preservation solutions for abdominal perfusion during multiorgan recovery.