TITLE:
Xenotransplantation of embryonic pig pancreas for treatment of diabetes mellitus in non-human primates
AUTHORS:
Marc R. Hammerman
KEYWORDS:
Beta Cell; Diabetes Mellitus; Non-Human Primates; Transplantation; Xenotransplantation
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering,
Vol.6 No.5A,
May
22,
2013
ABSTRACT: Transplantation therapy for diabetes in humans is
limited by the low availability of human donor whole pancreas or islets.
Outcomes are complicated by immunosuppressive drug toxicity. Xenotransplantation
is a strategy to overcome supply problems. Implantation of tissue obtained
early during embryogenesis is a way to reduce transplant immunogenicity. Pig
insulin is biologically active in humans. In that regard the pig is an
appropriate xenogeneic organ donor. Insulin-producing cells originating from
embryonic pig pancreas obtained very early following pancreatic primordium
formation [embryonic day 28 (E28)] engraft long-term in rhesus macaques. Endocrine
cells originating from embryonic pig pancreas transplanted in host mesentery
migrate to mesenteric lymph nodes, engraft, differentiate and improve glucose
tolerance in rhesus macaques without the need for immune suppression.
Transplantation of embryonic pig pancreas is a novel approach towards beta cell
replacement therapy that could be applicable to humans.