Islet allografting without immunosuppression: reversal of insulitis-associated diabetes and a case of spontaneous juvenile onset diabetes in mice.

The development of juvenile onset diabetes may involve an autoimmune response causing an insulitis and beta cell destruction. It has been suggested that replacement of the host's beta cells by transplantation may lead to the destruction of the new tissue by the same processes which caused the destruction of the original beta cells. This study does not support this proposal. It was possible to reverse insulitis-induced diabetes and spontaneous murine 'juvenile onset' diabetes by transplantation of cultured islet allografts. The grafts survived and maintained normoglycaemia for periods in excess of 100 days.