Prevention of complement-mediated cytotoxicity against rat islets by encapsulation in a cellulose sulphate membrane

The immuno-isolation by semipermeable membranes should prevent the immunological destruction of the transplanted tissue. The polyelectrolyte complex membrane from cellulose sulphate and poly(dimethyldiallylammoniumchloride), which does not alter the viability of the encapsulated rat islets, can prevent complement-mediated cytotoxicity. The 51Cr release from prelabelled islets, which was induced by either unspecific cytotoxicity of rabbit sera against the rat islets or by an anti-MHC rat serum in presence of complement, was prevented. The diffusion of immunoglobulins as well as of factors of the complement system was inhibited by encapsulation. The capsule membrane also prevents the beta-cell destruction in cytotoxic sera from newly diagnosed type-I diabetics measured as insulin leakage after blocking the active hormone secretion. In conclusion, the cellulose sulphate membrane seems to be useful for the transplantation of encapsulated islets.