Histological and immunopathological analysis of recovered encapsulated allogeneic islets from transplanted diabetic BB/W rats.
Allogeneic islets encapsulated in an alginate/poly-L-lysine membrane and transplanted into diabetic BB/W rats resulted in graft failure within 2 weeks of transplantation. Graft failure was associated with a dense pericapsular infiltrate (PCI) that resulted in necrosis of the encapsulated islets. The PCI could be inhibited by immunosuppressive agents, including cyclosporine and dexamethasone, and this resulted in a significant increase in graft survival. Immunopathological characterization of the PCI indicated that there was a predominance of macrophages. T helper cells also appeared to be present in this PCI. Empty capsules were also found to induce a similar PCI that was identical in composition to that found around encapsulated islets. Thus alginate/poly-L-lysine capsules do not appear to be biocompatible and may account for the variable results in islet graft survival found with these capsules.
Wijsman
J
J
University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Atkison
P
P
Mazaheri
R
R
Garcia
B
B
Paul
T
T
Vose
J
J
O'Shea
G
G
Stiller
C
C
D000818:Animals; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004339:Drug Compounding; D006085:Graft Survival; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000473:pathology*; D008099:Liver; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011913:Rats, Inbred BB / Q000502:physiology*; D013270:Stomach; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000473:pathology
D003907:Dexamethasone; D016572:Cyclosporine