Transplantation of porcine fetal pancreas to diabetic patients

Lancet. 1994 Nov 19;344(8934):1402-4. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(94)90570-3.

Abstract

Transplantation of fetal porcine islet-like cell clusters (ICC) reverses diabetes in experimental animals. We have now transplanted porcine ICC to ten insulin-dependent diabetic kidney-transplant patients. All patients received standard immunosuppression and, at ICC transplantation, antithymocyte globulin or 15-deoxyspergualin. ICC were injected intraportally or placed under the kidney capsule of the renal graft. Four patients excreted small amounts of porcine C-peptide in urine for 200-400 days. In one renal-graft biopsy specimen, morphologically intact epithelial cells stained positively for insulin and glucagon in the subcapsular space. We conclude that porcine pancreatic endocrine tissue can survive in the human body.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • C-Peptide / blood
  • C-Peptide / urine
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / surgery*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / urine
  • Female
  • Fetal Tissue Transplantation*
  • Graft Survival
  • Humans
  • Islets of Langerhans / embryology
  • Islets of Langerhans Transplantation*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pilot Projects
  • Swine
  • Transplantation, Heterologous*

Substances

  • C-Peptide