Porcine islets for xenotransplantation.
Long-term function of isolated porcine islets was investigated in diabetic nude mice. Seven of eight mice that received transplants of porcine islets remained normoglycemic for 1 year with progressive weight gain. Circulating porcine C-peptide was detected throughout the study period. Intravenous glucose tolerance tests showed a rapid glucose clearance rate. Together with our recent finding that porcine islets contained within an immunoexclusion device achieved glycemic control in a totally pancreatectomized dog, these results clearly demonstrate that isolated porcine islets are capable of functioning for prolonged periods in xenogeneic hosts and are suitable for long-term use in an immunoexclusion device in a discordant host.
Maki
T
T
Division of Organ Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Deaconess Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
O'Neil
J J
JJ
Porter
J
J
Mullon
C J
CJ
Solomon
B A
BA
Monaco
A P
AP
D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D013552:Swine; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous