The X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein enhances survival of murine islet allografts.

Allotransplantation of pancreatic islets represents a promising approach to treat type 1 diabetes. Destruction of beta-cells in islet allografts involves multiple immune mechanisms that lead to activation of caspases and apoptotic cell death. The X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) inhibits apoptosis induced by a variety of triggers, primarily by preventing the activation of caspases. To determine whether XIAP would protect beta-cells from apoptosis, we used a recombinant adenovirus to overexpress XIAP in transformed murine beta-cells and in freshly isolated islets. In vitro cytokine-induced beta-cell death was decreased to baseline levels in XIAP-transduced MIN-6 and NIT-1 cell lines compared with controls. To evaluate the potential of XIAP overexpression to prevent in vivo allogeneic graft rejection, we transduced Balb/c islets ex vivo with XIAP before transplantation into CBA mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. We observed that almost all mice receiving allografts of XIAP-expressing islets maintained normoglycemia until the experiment was terminated (45-72 days posttransplant), whereas control mice receiving islets transduced with adenovirus expressing LacZ were hyperglycemic by approximately 17 days posttransplantation due to graft rejection. Immunohistochemistry revealed preservation of beta-cells and clearance of infiltrating immune cells in the XIAP-expressing islet grafts. The in vitro allogeneic response of splenocytes isolated from recipients of XIAP-expressing grafts 8 weeks posttransplant was similar to that seen in nonprimed allogeneic mice, suggesting that XIAP overexpression may lead to the acceptance of islet allografts in diabetic recipients. Long-term protection of islet allografts by XIAP overexpression may enhance the survival of islet transplants in diabetes.