Open AccessCurrent status and future of clinical islet xenotransplantation
Author(s) -
Matsumoto Shinichi,
Tomiya Masayuki,
Sawamoto Osamu
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of diabetes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.949
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1753-0407
pISSN - 1753-0393
DOI - 10.1111/1753-0407.12395
Subject(s) - xenotransplantation , medicine , islet , diabetes mellitus , intensive care medicine , transplantation , endocrinology
β‐Cell replacement therapy, including allogeneic pancreas and islet transplantation, can normalize HbA1c levels in unstable type 1 diabetic (T1D) patients, but a donor shortage is a serious issue. To overcome this problem, xenotransplantation is an attractive option. In fact, islet transplantation from porcine pancreata was performed in the 1990s, which opened the door for islet xenotransplantation, but the possibility of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) infection was raised, which has restricted progress in this field. The International Xenotransplantation Association published a consensus statement on conditions for undertaking clinical trials of porcine islet products in T1D to restart islet xenotransplantation safely. Clinical porcine islet xenotransplantation was restarted under comprehensive regulations in New Zealand. In addition, newly emerged gene‐editing technologies have activated the xenotransplantation field. Islet xenotransplantation is becoming a clinical reality, with the results of recent studies showing promise to advance this field.