Significance
Pancreatic islet transplantation is a minimally invasive treatment, which can reverse Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) in selected patients. Islets of Langerhans are extracted (isolated) from the exocrine tissue of human donor pancreases using neutral protease (NP) and collagenase-based enzymes, which digest the extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffold surrounding human islets. This process remains highly variable and current enzymes are ineffective at digesting pancreases from younger donors. Using Raman microspectroscopy we demonstrate that donor age affects the enzymatic digestion of the pancreatic ECM at the molecular level. Collagenase activity is affected to a greater extent than NP. These findings will assist the development of donor-specific enzymes, thereby increasing the overall success of islet isolation and benefiting many people with T1DM worldwide.
Statement of significance
Pancreatic islet transplantation is a minimally invasive treatment, which can reverse Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) in selected patients. Islets of Langerhans are extracted (isolated) from the exocrine tissue of human donor pancreases using neutral protease (NP) and collagenase-based enzymes, which digest the extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffold surrounding human islets. This process remains highly variable and current enzymes are ineffective at digesting pancreases from younger donors. Using Raman microspectroscopy we demonstrate that donor age affects the enzymatic digestion of the pancreatic ECM at the molecular level. Collagenase activity is affected to a greater extent than NP. These findings will assist the development of donor-specific enzymes, thereby increasing the overall success of islet isolation and benefiting many people with T1DM worldwide.