The role of pancreatic alpha cells and endothelial cells in the reduction of oxidative stress in pseudoislets

It is known that the interaction of the pancreatic endocrine cells with support cells can improve their survival and lead to less vulnerability to oxidative stress. Here we investigated alpha (alpha TC-1), beta (INS1E) and endothelial (HUVEC) cells assembled into aggregates known as pseudoislets as a model of the pancreatic islets of Langerhans.

We hypothesised that the coculture of alpha, beta and endothelial cells would be protective against oxidative stress. First, we showed that adding endothelial cells decreased the percentage of oxidative stress–positive cells. We then asked if the number of endothelial cells or the size (number of cells) of the pseudoislet could increase the protection against oxidative stress.