Achievement of insulin independence in three consecutive type-1 diabetic patients via pancreatic islet transplantation using islets isolated at a remote islet isolation center

Abstract

These early data demonstrate that (1) pancreatic islets remain viable after shipment to remote transplant sites; (2) pancreatic islet isolation techniques and experience can be concentrated at a small number of regional facilities that could supply islets to remote transplant centers; and (3) insulin independence via PIT can be achieved using a remote pancreatic islet isolation center.

Upregulation of insulin receptor substrate-2 in pancreatic β cells prevents diabetes

“…As absolute or relative insulin insufficiency is associated with all forms of diabetes, β cell replacement via transplantation represents an attractive alternative for treating human diabetics; however, the isolation of sufficient (at least 10,000 islets/kg) high-quality human islets that survive and function after transplantation is challenging (55). Given the capacity of the rip13 →Irs2 transgene to preserve or enhance β cell function during transplantation in mice, upregulation of IRS2 by pharmacologic or genetic approaches just before transplantation might improve the function of human islets and reduce the number needed for successful transplantation.…”

Poly(ethylene glycol)-Block-Poly(2-methyl-2-benzoxycarbonyl-propylene Carbonate) Micelles for Rapamycin Delivery: In Vitro Characterization and Biodistribution

“…1,2 However, islet allograft recipients show a growing fall in insulin independence, resulting only 10% off insulin at 5 years. 3 This decline may reflect drug toxicity to $-cells.…”

A Novel Method for the Assessment of Cellular Composition and Beta-Cell Viability in Human Islet Preparations

“…While selected centers have reported high rates of success (1)(2)(3)(4)(5), there have been reports of failures occurring in the very early post-transplant period. This disappointing observation could be related to the use of islet preparations of less than optimal quality (6)(7)(8).…”