Abstract
In islet transplantation, recipients need to be transplanted with islets from two to three donor pancreas, but an insulin independence thus achieved is hardly maintained for an extended period after transplantation. Specific immunological challenges to islet transplantation as well as allogenic reactions are involved in the destruction of transplanted islets. Immediately after islet infusion through the portal vein and contact with the recipients' blood, an instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction(IBMIR) is triggered by complement-coagulation cascades and associated innate immune responses. This is followed by an early rejection reaction mediated by DNA-binding protein in the islets. Recurrence of autoimmunity also impinges on the long-term survival of the islets. To improve the success rates of islet transplantation, several methods have been designed to protect the islets from these immune reactions. Regarding an immunosuppressive regimen, the University of Minnesota has designed a new protocol, which we are planning to introduce in Japan.
