Applications of organ precursor cell therapy: can lessons from embryonic kidney transplantation be applied to the endocrine pancreas?
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this review is to provide an update relating to a novel approach to endocrine pancreas replacement therapy based in part on a technology developed for the transplantation of developing kidneys. The approach is to use organ primordia, and in this way transplant kidneys or pancreas in cellular form.


RESULTS
Cellular allotransplantation and xenotransplantation of both kidney and pancreatic anlagen has been successfully performed such that functioning organs develop in situ.


CONCLUSIONS
The number of human organs available for transplantation is limited. We and others have shown that it is possible to 'grow' new kidneys or endocrine pancreas from organ-specific precursor cells in situ. For the kidney, this technology takes advantage of the fact that a developing renal anlagen can attract its blood supply from an appropriate vascular bed post-transplantation, enabling the transplantation of kidneys in 'cellular' form. Techniques developed for the transplantation of embryonic kidneys can be applied to the transplantation of embryonic pancreas. Pancreatic anlagen implanted into a host peritoneum develop into a novel organ consisting of functional islets of Langerhans surrounded by stroma. The transplantation of developing pancreas could represent a novel 'cellular' treatment for diabetes mellitus, a major cause of end-stage renal disease.
Hammerman
Marc R
MR
Renal Division, Box 8126, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. mhammerm@im.wustl.edu
D000818:Animals; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000502:physiology*; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013552:Swine; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000502:physiology