Human islet xenotransplantation in rodents: A literature review of experimental model trends

Abstract

Among the innovations for the treatment of type 1 diabetes, islet transplantation is a less invasive method of treatment, although it is still in development. One of the greatest barriers to this technique is the low number of pancreas donors and the low number of pancreases that are available for transplantation. Rodent models have been chosen in most studies of islet rejection and type 1 diabetes prevention to evaluate the quality and function of isolated human islets and to identify alternative solutions to the problem of islet scarcity. The purpose of this study is to conduct a review of islet xenotransplantation experiments from humans to rodents, to organize and analyze the parameters of these experiments, to describe trends in experimental modeling and to assess the viability of this procedure. In this study, we reviewed recently published research regarding islet xenotransplantation from humans to rodents, and we summarized the findings and organized the relevant data. The included studies were recent reports that involved xenotransplantation using human islets in a rodent model. We excluded the studies that related to isotransplantation, autotransplantation and allotransplantation. A total of 34 studies that related to xenotransplantation were selected for review based on their relevance and current data. Advances in the use of different graft sites may overcome autoimmunity and rejection after transplantation, which may solve the problem of the scarcity of islet donors in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Modular tissue engineering for the vascularization of subcutaneously transplanted pancreatic islets

“…Similar islet numbers (2,000-3,000) are reported by others for s.c. normoglycemia in xenograft models in immune-compromised mice (13,30,32). The success (or lack of success) of xenogeneic islet transplantation, largely in the kidney capsule, has been reviewed elsewhere (33). With modules containing HUVEC, 750 IEQ was sufficient to restore normoglycemia in this immune-compromised xenograft model.…”

Culturing and transcriptome profiling of progenitor-like colonies derived from adult mouse pancreas

“…Currently, islet transplantation is the main way to cure diabetes completely. However, the lack of available donor islets has prevented extensive use of this method [ 44 ]. Thus, identification of alternative islet sources may provide a gateway to widespread use of this practice to treat diabetes.…”

Gastric fundus submucosa as a site for islets transplantation: An experimental study

“…The liver is still considered the most appropriate location of the implant in clinical practise, however immunological, anatomical and physiological factors have contributed to a need for locations with better results [ 5 ]. Currently the most common experimental site is the renal capsule, which is the subject of 70% of published research [ 6 , 13 ].…”