Islet Transplantation
Islet Transplantation - Related Videos
17:42
A Method for Murine Islet Isolation and Subcapsular Kidney Transplantation
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Cited by 134 •
2011
Transplantation of isolated islets has been proposed to be a potential treatment for type 1 diabetes. Here we describe a method to isolate islets from mouse pancreata and transplant them to the subcapsular space of the kidney.
03:48
Murine Model of Islet Transplantation: A Surgical Method to Infuse Pancreatic Islets in Portal Vein and Prevention of Postoperative Bleeding
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2025
In this video, we describe a procedure to infuse pancreatic islet cells into the hepatic portal vein, followed by application of gel foam to successfully prevent bleeding. Postoperative bleeding is a common cause of high mortality during islet transplantation.
03:33
Grafting Pancreatic Islets: A Method to Implant Pancreatic Islets into the Anterior Chamber of the Mouse Eye for In Vivo Imaging
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2023
This video describes the protocol for grafting human pancreatic islets into the anterior chamber of the mouse’s eye to monitor revascularization of human islet grafts in vivo. It also helps to understand the contribution of recipient versus donor cells in promoting the encapsulation and vascularization of the graft.
10:43
Transplantation of Pancreatic Islets Into the Kidney Capsule of Diabetic Mice
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Cited by 98 •
2007
Our protocol was developed to cleanly and easily deliver islets or cells under the kidney capsule of mice. Cells are concentrated into pellets in the final tubing used for transplanting the cells under the kidney capsule. The ease of this technique reduces stress to the cells and the mouse.
06:25
A Method for Islet Transplantation to the Omentum in Mouse
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Cited by 4 •
2019
A method for the omental transplantation of islets in a mouse is introduced. The isolated islets are mixed with hydrogel and the mixture is placed into the omental pouch of a diabetic mouse. Then, the blood glucose is monitored, and immuno-histochemical analysis is performed.
FAQs
Engrafted islets retain the key functional relationship between glucose concentration and insulin release. As blood-glucose concentrations change, the insulin-producing cells respond by adjusting secretion, allowing the transplanted tissue to contribute to glucose regulation. This cellular responsiveness, rather than simple tissue placement alone, is central to why successful engraftment can improve glycemic control.
Immune rejection is a major barrier because it can compromise the transferred islet graft after implantation. As graft function declines, the tissue may no longer provide the insulin response needed for glucose regulation. This explains why immunosuppression remains associated with the therapy and why maintaining graft function over the long term is difficult.
Limited donor tissue restricts how widely this cell-based therapy can be applied. Islet transplantation depends on obtaining enough insulin-producing pancreatic islets for transfer, so supply becomes a constraint before biological performance is considered. This limitation is distinct from immune rejection: one concerns the availability of transplantable cells, while the other threatens their persistence after transplantation.
A typical procedure begins with isolated pancreatic islets and places them through infusion into the recipient's portal vein. The cells then reach the liver, the site described for engraftment, where they can respond to changing blood-glucose concentrations and release insulin. The workflow therefore links cell isolation, vascular delivery, engraftment, and endocrine function.
Islet transplantation is used as a cell-based therapy for selected people with type 1 diabetes, with goals that include improving glycemic control and reducing severe hypoglycemia. Its potential benefit is therefore measured not only by insulin production, but also by better regulation of blood glucose and fewer episodes of severe low blood glucose.
Islet transplantation connects cell biology with regenerative medicine by relying on living pancreatic cells to restore a lost physiological function. Its success depends on several biological levels working together: transferred islets must engraft, remain functional, respond to changing glucose concentrations, and release insulin. This makes the therapy an example of using cells to address impaired glucose regulation.