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Inguinal Subcutaneous White Adipose Tissue ISWAT Transplantation Model of Murine Islets
Published on: February 16, 2020
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Transplantation sites for porcine islets
Rebecca A Stokes1,2,3, Denbigh M Simond3,4,5, Heather Burns3,5
1Centre for Diabetes, Obesity & Endocrinology, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research (WIMR), The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Diabetologia
|July 22, 2017
Summary
Porcine islet transplantation in pigs showed the kidney as the superior site for beta cell replacement. Further research is needed to identify optimal sites for long-term success in human type 1 diabetes treatment.
Area of Science:
- Transplantation immunology
- Endocrinology
- Diabetes research
Background:
- Xenotransplantation offers a potential cure for type 1 diabetes by replacing beta cells.
- Identifying optimal transplantation sites is critical for xenotransplantation success.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of porcine islet tissue transplanted into different sites (kidney, liver, spleen) in pig recipients.
- To assess the viability and success of various transplantation sites for future human applications.
Main Methods:
- Porcine islet tissue was transplanted into the kidney, liver, and spleen of pig recipients.
- Blood glucose levels and Intravenous Glucose Tolerance Tests (IVGTT) were used to assess outcomes.
Main Results:
- The kidney emerged as the superior transplantation site, showing the best glucose-lowering effect.
- Spleen and liver sites demonstrated less favorable outcomes compared to the kidney, with higher peak glucose levels observed during IVGTTs.
Conclusions:
- While the kidney is the most effective site in pigs, its feasibility in humans is limited.
- Further investigation into alternative transplantation sites is necessary for successful long-term islet xenotransplantation in humans.

