Islet cell transplantation

Islet cell transplantation
Microscopic image of an islet of Langerhans (lighter area) surrounded by exocrine pancreas tissue (darker staining).
MeSHD016381

Islet transplantation is the transplantation of isolated islets from a donor pancreas into another person. It is a treatment for type 1 diabetes.[1] Once transplanted, the islets begin to produce insulin, actively regulating the level of glucose in the blood.

Islets are usually infused into the person's liver.[2] If the cells are not from a genetically identical donor the person's body will recognize them as foreign and the immune system will begin to attack them as with any transplant rejection. To prevent this immunosuppressant drugs are used. A study from 2005 showed that islet transplantation has progressed to the point that 58% of the people were insulin independent one year after the operation.[3] A review published 2016 reported a 50 – 70% rate of insulin independence after five years, in five studies from leading transplant centers published 2005 – 2012.[4]

In the period from 1999 to 2004, 471 people with type 1 diabetes received islet transplants at 43 institutions worldwide.[5]

Donislecel (Lantidra) allogeneic (donor) pancreatic islet cellular therapy was approved for medical use in the United States in June 2023.[6]

  1. ^ Health Quality Ontario (2015). "Pancreas Islet Transplantation for Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Clinical Evidence Review". Ontario Health Technology Assessment Series. 15 (16): 1–84. ISSN 1915-7398. PMC 4664938. PMID 26644812.
  2. ^ Lakey JR, Burridge PW, Shapiro AM (September 2003). "Technical aspects of islet preparation and transplantation". Transplant International. 16 (9): 613–32. doi:10.1111/j.1432-2277.2003.tb00361.x. PMID 12928769.
  3. ^ Close NC, Hering BJ, Eggerman TL (March 2005). "Results from the inaugural year of the Collaborative Islet Transplant Registry". Transplantation Proceedings. 37 (2): 1305–8. doi:10.1016/j.transproceed.2004.12.117. PMID 15848704.
  4. ^ Shapiro, A. M. James; Pokrywczynska, Marta; Ricordi, Camillo (2016-11-11). "Clinical pancreatic islet transplantation". Nature Reviews Endocrinology. 13 (5): 268–277. doi:10.1038/nrendo.2016.178. ISSN 1759-5037. PMID 27834384. S2CID 28784928.
  5. ^ Shapiro AM, Lakey JR, Paty BW, Senior PA, Bigam DL, Ryan EA (May 2005). "Strategic opportunities in clinical islet transplantation". Transplantation. 79 (10): 1304–7. doi:10.1097/01.TP.0000157300.53976.2A. PMID 15912095.
  6. ^ "FDA Approves First Cellular Therapy to Treat Patients with Type 1 Diabetes". U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (Press release). 28 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.