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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 human and murine islets
Rebecca A Stokes1,2,3, Kim Cheng2, Amit Lalwani1,2,4
1Centre for Diabetes, Obesity & Endocrinology, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research (WIMR), Room 2040, Level 2, Darcy Rd, Westmead Hospital, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2145, Australia.
Diabetologia
|July 24, 2017
Summary
Transplanting islets into skeletal muscle is a promising alternative for type 1 diabetes treatment. This method shows comparable or better glucose control than the traditional portal vein site.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Transplantation Biology
- Diabetes Research
Background:
- Beta cell replacement offers a potential cure for type 1 diabetes.
- Current human islet transplantation into the liver via the portal vein has limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate alternative transplantation sites for human and murine islets.
- To compare the efficacy of quadriceps muscle, kidney, liver, and spleen capsules against the portal vein for islet transplantation.
Main Methods:
- Murine and human islets were transplanted into diabetic immunodeficient mice at five different sites: portal vein, quadriceps muscle, kidney capsule, liver capsule, and spleen capsule.
- Blood glucose levels were monitored to assess transplant success and determine minimum effective islet dose.
- Dose-response studies were conducted to establish the minimum islet mass required for diabetes cure.
Main Results:
- For murine islets, kidney transplantation achieved 100% success, followed by muscle (70%) and portal vein (60%).
- For human islets, kidney transplantation showed 75-80% success, while muscle and portal vein transplantation had 29% success at 2000 islet equivalents.
- Increased islet mass improved muscle graft success rates to 52-56%.
Conclusions:
- Skeletal muscle transplantation yielded results comparable or superior to the portal vein for both human and murine islets.
- The kidney is highly effective but not feasible for human recipients; skeletal muscle offers easier access and biopsy potential.
- Human trials exploring skeletal muscle as an islet transplantation site are warranted.

