title: [Transplantation of islets of langerhans--alternative or solution in type 1 diabetes treatment?].
abstract: Diabetes mellitus is severe disease caused by partial or total lack of insulin leading to microangiopathy. Methods of treatment used today do not protect patients from the complications of disease. The proposed alternative of the treatment is transplantation of the pancreas islets. Till June 2003, 705 transplantation were performed worldwide. Allotransplant trials were described so far, while xenotransplants may appear as an alternative using alien species donors. Immune incompatibility of a human and animals is a major problem in the method, which can be solved by the use of genetically modified animals. In vitro genetic modifications of the pancreatic islets were already undertaken. New perspective arose with the development of the "stem cells" technology--differentiation of the primary cells into the Langerhans islets cells. Contemporary data show positive value of the method and give new perspective in the treatment of diabetes mellitus with respect to its rising morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Katedry i Zakładu Anatomii Prawidłowej, Katowicach.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lepich
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wilk
authors.forename: Józefa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dabek
authors.forename: Aneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piwowarczyk
authors.forename: Bartłomiej
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kuczera
authors.forename: Jerzy S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Gielecki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000254:growth & development; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000379:methods; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous