Characteristics and transplantation of the porcine neonatal pancreatic cell clusters isolated from 1- to 3-Day-Old versus 1-Month-Old pigs

Porcine Neonatal Pancreatic Cell Clusters Maintain Their Multipotency in Culture and After Transplantation

“…4 ); better understanding of cellular and molecular changes of NPCCs post-Tx would potentially be critical to define important intrinsic and external players to facilitate Tx outcome (e.g. to shorten time window of glycemic normalization post Tx) 14 , 26 . Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms of immune rejections upon NPCC xenotransplantation could also possibly be addressed if impacts of adjacent microenvironment of NPCCs-bearing grafts are elucidated 27 .…”

Islet xenotransplantation: what is the optimal age of the islet‐source pig?

“…In conclusion, Lamb's data suggest that pigs in the first month of life have better islet yield per gram of pancreas even when compared to adult pigs . Luca's data suggest that 3‐day‐old pigs have some advantages over older neonates as sources of NICCs for transplantation , but Juang's study suggests little difference in outcome whether NICCs are isolated from pigs early or late during the first month of life . Arefanian's study suggests that 7‐day‐old piglet NICCs are functionally better in vivo than those from 3‐, 5‐, or 10‐day‐old piglets, although this study involved mice as recipients rather than NHPs .…”

“…Data reported by Juang et al. indicated that NICCs isolated from 1‐ to 3‐day‐old or 1‐month‐old pigs have different characteristics, but similar effects after transplantation into non‐diabetic mice. They reported comparable mean yields of islets.…”

“…Grafts in both groups were found to have similar β‐cell mass and function. The results of islet transplantation in diabetic mice showed the blood glucose decreasing at the same rate after transplantation; normoglycemia was achieved at 8 weeks in both the 1‐ to 3‐day‐old and the 1‐month‐old groups .…”

“…Is there any published evidence suggesting that this age is optimal? Most studies of pig NICC transplantation into mice have used donors of 1 to 7 days of age .…”