title: Islet isolation for clinical transplantation.
abstract: Islet transplantation is emerging as a viable treatment option for selected patients with type 1 diabetes. Following the initial report in 2000 from Edmonton of insulin independence in seven out of seven consecutive recipients, there has been a huge expansion in clinical islet transplantation. The challenge we now face is the apparent decline in graft function over time. Isolating high-quality human islets which survive and function for a longer period will no doubt contribute to further improvement in long-term clinical outcome. This chapter reviews the selection of appropriate donors for islet isolation and transplantation, describes each step during islet isolation, and discusses the scope for further improvements.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Islet Laboratory, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2C8, Canada. tkin@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000628:therapy*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology*; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin