The efficacy of an immunoisolating membrane system for islet xenotransplantation in minipigs.
Developing a device that protects xenogeneic islets to allow treatment and potentially cure of diabetes in large mammals has been a major challenge in the past decade. Using xenogeneic islets for transplantation is required in light of donor shortage and the large number of diabetic patients that qualify for islet transplantation. Until now, however, host immunoreactivity against the xenogeneic graft has been a major drawback for the use of porcine islets. Our study demonstrates the applicability of a novel immunoprotective membrane that allows successful xenotransplantation of rat islets in diabetic minipigs without immunosuppressive therapy. Rat pancreatic islets were encapsulated in highly purified alginate and integrated into a plastic macrochamber covered by a poly-membrane for subcutaneous transplantation. Diabetic Sinclair pigs were transplanted and followed for up to 90 days. We demonstrated a persistent graft function and restoration of normoglycemia without the need for immunosuppressive therapy. This concept could potentially offer an attractive strategy for a more widespread islet replacement therapy that would restore endogenous insulin secretion in diabetic patients without the need for immunosuppressive drugs and may even open up an avenue for safe utilization of xenogeneic islet donors.
Technology Department, Beta-O2 Technologies, Rosh HaAyin, Israel.
Tova
T
Neufeld
Barbara
B
Ludwig
Uriel
U
Barkai
Gordon C
GC
Weir
Clark K
CK
Colton
Yoav
Y
Evron
Maria
M
Balyura
Karina
K
Yavriyants
Baruch
B
Zimermann
Dmitri
D
Azarov
Shiri
S
Maimon
Noa
N
Shabtay
Tania
T
Rozenshtein
Dana
D
Lorber
Anja
A
Steffen
Udi
U
Willenz
Konstantine
K
Bloch
Pnina
P
Vardi
Ran
R
Taube
Paul
P
de Vos
Eli C
EC
Lewis
Stefan R
SR
Bornstein
Avi
A
Rotem
D000818:Animals; D018533:Biomass; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D004058:Diffusion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D013997:Time Factors; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000295:instrumentation*
D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010100:Oxygen