Background and aims Successful islet transplantation as a promising treatment of diabetes type 1 is threatened with the loss of islets during the pre-transplant culture due to hypoxia and oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. Therefore, optimization of culture in order to preserve the islets is a critical point. In this study, we investigated the effect of resveratrol, as a cytoprotective agent, on the cultured human islets. Methods and results Isolated islets were treated with different concentrations of resveratrol for 24 and 72 h. Islets' viability, apoptosis, apoptosis markers, and insulin and C-peptide secretion, along with the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α), and its target genes in the islets were investigated. Our findings showed that the islets were exposed to hypoxia and oxidative stress after isolation and during culture. This insult induced apoptosis and decreased viability during 72 h. The presence of resveratrol significantly attenuated HIF-1α and ROS production, reduced apoptosis, promoted the VEGF secretion, and increased the insulin and C-peptide secretion. In this regard, resveratrol improved the islet's survival and function in the culture period. Conclusions Using resveratrol can attenuate the stressful condition for the islets in the pre-transplant culture and subsequently ameliorate their viability and functionality that lead to successful outcome after clinical transplantation.
