Long-term metabolic control of autoimmune diabetes in spontaneously diabetic nonobese diabetic mice by nonvascularized microencapsulated adult porcine islets.

BACKGROUND: The long-term metabolic function of microencapsulated xenogeneic adult porcine islets (API) was assessed in a murine model of type 1 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: API were encapsulated in barium-gelled alginate and transplanted intraperitoneally in diabetic nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice given no immunosuppression or given costimulatory blockade (CoB; CTLA4-Ig+anti-CD154 mAb). Control mice received nonencapsulated API under the kidney capsule. Graft function was monitored by measurement of random blood glucose levels, serum glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), serum porcine C peptide, in vivo glucose tolerance tests, and histologic analyses of host pancreas and graft biopsies. Host immune responses to the islet xenografts were characterized by phenotyping peritoneal cellular infiltrates and by measuring serum antiporcine antibody levels. RESULTS: Without immunosuppression, nonencapsulated API functioned for less than 1 week, and microencapsulated API functioned for 35+/-14 days before rejection, associated with both a cellular and a humoral immune response. With continuous CoB, nonencapsulated API functioned for 27+/-4 days, whereas microencapsulated API functioned for >450 days with measurable levels of serum porcine C peptide, near normal in vivo glucose tolerance tests and HbA1c levels, and intact microcapsules containing viable, insulin-positive porcine islets. CONCLUSIONS: Microencapsulated API restored normoglycemia for more than 1 year in spontaneously diabetic NODs given dual CoB. To our knowledge, this is the first study to document long-term normalized HbA1c, porcine C peptide, and near normal glucose tolerance in immunosuppressed diabetic NOD mice transplanted intraperitoneally with microencapsulated API. Our study suggests that transplantation of microencapsulated porcine islet xenografts may be a future treatment for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.