Open AccessHuman β-cell Precursors Mature Into Functional Insulin-producing Cells in an Immunoisolation Device: Implications for Diabetes Cell Therapies
Author(s) -
SeungHee Lee,
Ergeng Hao,
Alexei Y. Savinov,
Ifat Geron,
Alex Y. Strongin,
Pamela ItkinAnsari
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.45
H-Index - 204
eISSN - 1534-6080
pISSN - 0041-1337
DOI - 10.1097/tp.0b013e31819c86ea
Subject(s) - immunosuppression , islet , transplantation , progenitor cell , nod mice , medicine , nod , stem cell , diabetes mellitus , pancreatic islets , insulin , immunology , type 1 diabetes , biology , endocrinology , microbiology and biotechnology
Islet transplantation is limited by the need for chronic immunosuppression and the paucity of donor tissue. As new sources of human beta-cells are developed (e.g., stem cell-derived tissue), transplanting them in a durable device could obviate the need for immunosuppression, while also protecting the patient from any risk of tumorigenicity. Here, we studied (1) the survival and function of encapsulated human beta-cells and their progenitors and (2) the engraftment of encapsulated murine beta-cells in allo- and autoimmune settings.