Long-term insulin independence following repeated islet transplantation in totally pancreatectomized diabetic pigs.

Clinical islet transplantation (Tx) in type I diabetic patients has been successful so far only in a minority of cases, probably because of multiple factors, partly immunologic and partly nonimmunologic in nature. Preclinical studies of islet Tx in large animals are still needed to clarify the reasons and find possible solutions. In this study, we tested the feasibility of noninvasive, repeated intrahepatic allo-Tx of porcine pancreatic islets obtained from multiple donors, in pigs rendered diabetic by total pancreatectomy (Pct).