PET-CT tracing and fluorescence imaging to monitor the colonization and distribution of combined transplantation of islets and BMSC

Objective To further observe the efficacy of combined transplantation of islet and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) in diabetic rats, PET-CT was used to trace cells in vivo to determine the homing and distribution of cells in vivo. Methods Streptozotocin (STZ)was used to construct a rat model of diabetes mellitus. BMSC could be isolated and cultured by full adherence method; islets were isolated by collagenase; Islets and BMSC were labeled with 18F-FDG in vitro. Diabetic rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, 15 rats in each group: A, Control group; B, Stem cell transplantation group; C, Islet Transplantation group; D, Combined transplantation group, a total of four groups, all transplanted through portal vein, PET-CT tracing the distribution of cells transplanted into the body.7 days after transplantation, the livers of each group were taken, and the homing and distribution of transplanted cells were detected by immunofluorescent staining.The SUV was calculated by the analysis of variance of random block, and the difference between groups was compared by t-test. Results PET-CT results showed that BMSC were mainly distributed uniformly in the right liver, and the islets of the pancreas were mainly clustered in terminal branches of hepatic portal vein, and BMSC were around the islets of pancreas, but there was no obvious development in the liver of the control group. Conclusions PET-CT can directly reveal the distribution of islets and BMSC in liver after transplantation through portal vein. Key words: Islet transplantation; Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell; Positron emission tomography and computed tomography