Islet surface modification with urokinase through DNA hybridization.

Transplantation of islets of Langerhans (islets) has been proposed as a safe, effective approach to treating patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type I diabetes). It has been reported, however, that many islets are lost in the early phase after intraportal transplantation by instant blood coagulation-mediated inflammatory reactions. In this study, DNA hybridization was applied to conjugate the fibrinolytic enzyme urokinase on the islet surface. We synthesized amphiphilic polymers, PEG-lipids carrying oligo(dT)(20) (oligo(dT)(20)-PEG-lipid; PEG MW = 5000) and urokinase (UK) carrying oligo(dA)(20). The oligo(dT)(20)-PEG-lipid was spontaneously incorporated into the cell membrane through interactions between the hydrophobic parts of the PEG-lipids and the lipid bilayer, and UK was conjugated on the cell surface through DNA hybridization between oligo(dT)(20) on the cell and complementary oligo(dA)(20) on the UK. The activity of UK was maintained on the islet surface. The surface modification with UK did not influence islet morphology or islet ability to secrete insulin in response to changes in glucose concentration. No practical volume increase was observed with our method, indicating that islet graft loss could be suppressed at the early stage of intraportal islet transplantation.