Allotransplantation of Islet Endocrine Aggregates

Dissociated pancreatic islets form endocrine aggregates from single-cell suspension by rotation culture. Islet cell aggregates, or neoislets, can provide endocrine reconstitution for diabetic rats and enjoy prolonged graft survival when neoislets are transplanted across a major histocompatibility barrier (Lewis to ACI). Long-term survival of grafted neoislets was obtained in 71% of recipients without any immunosuppression and in 100% of recipients with minimal immunosuppression. As predicted by cell-cell recognition in rotation-mediated aggregation, neoislets apparently exclude mesenchymal cells that bear la antigens. Therefore, reduced immunogenicity is accomplished.