Pig islets for clinical islet xenotransplantation.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Allogeneic islet transplantation faces difficulties because organ shortage is recurrent; several pancreas donors are often needed to treat one diabetic recipient; and the intrahepatic site of islet implantation may not be the most appropriate one. Another source of insulin-producing cells, therefore, would be of major interest, and pigs represent a possible and serious source for obtaining such cells. RECENT FINDINGS: Pig islet grafts may appear difficult because of the species barrier, but recent studies demonstrate that pig islets may function in diabetic primates for at least 6 months. SUMMARY: Pig islet xenotransplantation, however, must still overcome the selection of a suitable pig donor to translate preclinical findings into clinical applications. This review summarizes the actual acquired knowledge of pig islet transplantation in primates to select the 'ideal' pig donor.