Cryopreservation of insulin-secreting INS832/13 cells using a wheat protein formulation

Diabetes is a global epidemic that affects about 285 million people worldwide. For severely-ill patients with type I diabetes, whole pancreas or islet transplantation is the only therapeutic option. Islet transplantation is hindered by the scarce supply of fresh functional islets and limitations in cryopreservation procedures. Thus, improved cryopreservation procedures are needed to increase the availability of functional islets for clinical applications. Towards this goal, this work developed a cryopreservation protocol for pancreatic cells using proteins that accumulate naturally in freezing-tolerant plants. A preincubation of cells with 1% lecithin-1% glycerol-1% N-methylpyrrolidone followed by cryopreservation with partially purified proteins from wheat improved the viability and insulin-secreting properties of INS832/13 cells, compared to cryopreservation with 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO). The major factor that enhanced the cryoprotective effect of the wheat protein formulation was preincubation with the lipid lecithin. Expression profiles of genes involved in metabolic and signaling functions of pancreatic cells (Ins, Glut1/2/3, Pdx1, Reg1α) were similar between fresh cells and those cryopreserved with the plant protein formulation. This novel plant-based technology, which is non-toxic and contains no animal material, is a promising alternative to Me2SO for cryopreservation of insulin-secreting pancreatic cells.