title: Xenotransplantation of embryonic pig pancreas for treatment of diabetes mellitus in non-human primates.
abstract: Transplantation therapy for diabetes in humans is limited by the low availability of human donor whole pancreas or islets. Outcomes are complicated by immunosuppressive drug toxicity. Xenotransplantation is a strategy to overcome supply problems. Implantation of tissue obtained early during embryogenesis is a way to reduce transplant immunogenicity. Pig insulin is biologically active in humans. In that regard the pig is an appropriate xenogeneic organ donor. Insulin-producing cells originating from embryonic pig pancreas obtained very early following pancreatic primordium formation [embryonic day 28 (E28)] engraft long-term in rhesus macaques. Endocrine cells originating from embryonic pig pancreas transplanted in host mesentery migrate to mesenteric lymph nodes, engraft, differentiate and improve glucose tolerance in rhesus macaques without the need for immune suppression. Transplantation of embryonic pig pancreas is a novel approach towards beta cell replacement therapy that could be applicable to humans.
authors: George M. O'Brien Center for Kidney Disease Research, Renal Division, Departments of Medicine and Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis MO 63110.
authors: Marc R
authors: MR
authors: Hammerman
keywords: Beta cell; Diabetes mellitus; Non-human primates; Transplantation; Xenotransplantation