The liposome technique is widely used to transport substances that cannot normally traverse the plasma membrane into the cell. The interactions of liposomes with the plasma membrane of pancreatic islet cells have not previously been studied. We evaluate the suitability of the liposome technique for introducing substances into the pancreatic β-cell to which the cell membrane is impermeable. Liposomes were synthesized with an ether-injection method, and the cell-liposomal interactions were investigated by means of radioactive labeling and the fluorescent aqueous space marker 6-carboxyfluorescein. Experiments were performed on freshly isolated mouse pancreatic islets and on free islet cell preparations. With fluorescence microscopy, liposomes were observed to fuse spontaneously with islet cells, and the corresponding internalized volumes were quantified with spectrofluorometric measurements. The liposome association with islets and islet cell suspensions, as assessed by radioactive labeling, was found to increase with the liposome concentration. The effects of liposome membrane lipid composition on the fusion rate were found to be decreased in the presence of glucolipid. In addition, polyethylene glycol failed to affect the liposomal uptake. Freshly isolated islets incubated with liposomes containing glucose 6-phosphate were observed to release slightly more insulin than islets incubated with “empty” liposomes. In conclusion, liposomes fuse spontaneously with islet cells in vitro, and the uptake of liposomes is regulated by the lipid composition of the liposomal bilayer and the amount of liposomes present. The function of the β-cell can be altered with the liposome technique, e.g., by addition of biologically active molecules such as glucose 6-phosphate.
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Original Articles|
August 01 1988
Use of Liposomes to Introduce Substances Into Pancreatic Islet Cells
Nils Welsh;
Nils Welsh
Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University
Uppsala, Sweden
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Anders Hallberg;
Anders Hallberg
Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University
Uppsala, Sweden
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Stellan Sandler;
Stellan Sandler
Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University
Uppsala, Sweden
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Claes Hellerström
Claes Hellerström
Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University
Uppsala, Sweden
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Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Nils Welsh, Department of Medical Cell Biology, Biomedicum, P.O. Box 571, S-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden.
Diabetes 1988;37(8):1123–1128
Article history
Received:
September 04 1987
Revision Received:
February 19 1988
Accepted:
February 19 1988
PubMed:
3292331
Citation
Nils Welsh, Anders Hallberg, Stellan Sandler, Claes Hellerström; Use of Liposomes to Introduce Substances Into Pancreatic Islet Cells. Diabetes 1 August 1988; 37 (8): 1123–1128. https://doi.org/10.2337/diab.37.8.1123
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