Open AccessSubcutaneous transplantation of human thyroid tissue into a pre-vascularized Cell Pouch™ device in a Mus musculus model: Evidence of viability and function for thyroid transplantation
Author(s) -
Sam M. Wiseman,
Arash Memarnejadian,
Guilaine K. Boyce,
Anne Nguyen,
Blair Walker,
Daniel T. Holmes,
Ian Welch,
Delfina M. Mazzuca,
Philip M. Toleikis
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0262345
Subject(s) - transplantation , thyroid , medicine , thyroid function , thyroglobulin , pathology , andrology
This study aimed to investigate the survival and efficacy indicators of human thyroid tissue transplantation into a retrievable, prevascularized implanted Sernova Corp Cell Pouch™ (CP) device. Thyroid tissue from human donors was transplanted subcutaneously into the pre-implanted CP device or into the subcutaneous (SC) space alone as a control in a nude Mus musculus model. Transplanted M . musculus were monitored for human serum thyroglobulin (TG) levels for 3 months until the transplants were removed for histological assessment. Human thyroid tissue survived and continued to produce TG in transplanted nude M . musculus in the CP, with no adverse events. CP transplants exhibited more persistent and robust production of human TG than tissue placed in the SC space alone from 3 to 13 weeks post transplantation. Fresh thyroid transplants had better survival and function compared to cryopreserved transplants. Thyroid transplant viability correlated with TG levels at 3 months post-transplant (p = 0.03). Immunofluorescence staining of transplants for TG and TPO localized in thyroid follicles. Human thyroid tissue transplanted into the subcutaneously implanted pre-vascularized CP in nude M . musculus survived and continued to produce robust and persistent human TG and warrants further investigation as a treatment for postoperative hypothyroidism.