INTRODUCTION: The discovery of a cure for diabetes is a dream of many medical researchers. The transplantation of Langerhans islets is a potential treatment of choice for patients with type 1 diabetes as a source of endogenous insulin for the recipient. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the experiment was to transplant Langerhans islets without immunosuppression. To protect the grafts against transplant rejection, semipermeable membranes could be used. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Langerhans islets were isolated from rats and pigs and immunoisolated by encapsulation in alginate-protamine-heparin (APH) or alginate-poly-L-lysine-alginate (APA) membranes. Islets were pooled in a controlled manner. Tests for cryopreservation and biocompatibility were also performed. RESULTS: The capsules coated with APH are more resistant than the capsules coated with APA. After transplantation of the islets immunoisolated with APA, euglycemia is maintained longer than after transplantation of the islets immunoisolated with APH. Microencapsulation protects the islets from destruction by the host. CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible to treat experimental diabetes by transplantation of encapsulated Langerhans islets without immunosuppression.
INTRODUCTION: The discovery of a cure for diabetes is a dream of many medical researchers. The transplantation of Langerhans islets is a potential treatment of choice for patients with type 1 diabetes as a source of endogenous insulin for the recipient. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the experiment was to transplant Langerhans islets without immunosuppression. To protect the grafts against transplant rejection, semipermeable membranes could be used. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Langerhans islets were isolated from rats and pigs and immunoisolated by encapsulation in alginate-protamine-heparin (APH) or alginate-poly-L-lysine-alginate (APA) membranes. Islets were pooled in a controlled manner. Tests for cryopreservation and biocompatibility were also performed. RESULTS: The capsules coated with APH are more resistant than the capsules coated with APA. After transplantation of the islets immunoisolated with APA, euglycemia is maintained longer than after transplantation of the islets immunoisolated with APH. Microencapsulation protects the islets from destruction by the host. CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible to treat experimental diabetes by transplantation of encapsulated Langerhans islets without immunosuppression.
Authors: Barbara Ludwig; Avi Rotem; Janine Schmid; Gordon C Weir; Clark K Colton; Mathias D Brendel; Tova Neufeld; Norman L Block; Karina Yavriyants; Anja Steffen; Stefan Ludwig; Triantafyllos Chavakis; Andreas Reichel; Dimitri Azarov; Baruch Zimermann; Shiri Maimon; Mariya Balyura; Tania Rozenshtein; Noa Shabtay; Pnina Vardi; Konstantin Bloch; Paul de Vos; Andrew V Schally; Stefan R Bornstein; Uriel Barkai Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2012-03-05 Impact factor: 11.205