allogenic human islet cells

Allogenic human islet cells are a cellular therapeutic consisting of insulin-producing islets of Langerhans harvested from the pancreata of deceased, unrelated human organ donors. Developed and investigated by City of Hope Medical Center, this therapy is specifically targeted at patients with difficult-to-control Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM), including those with frequent severe hypoglycemia or hypoglycemia unawareness. The islets are transplanted into the recipient's liver via the portal vein (intraportal infusion). Once engrafted, the donor beta cells function as a biological replacement for the patient's destroyed cells, sensing blood glucose levels and secreting insulin in a physiologically responsive manner. This treatment aims to restore glycemic stability and potentially achieve insulin independence. To prevent immune rejection of the allogenic cells, the procedure is performed in conjunction with T-cell depleting induction therapy (e.g., anti-thymocyte globulin or alemtuzumab) and long-term maintenance immunosuppression.

Other names

allogeneic human islet cellsallogeneic islet transplantationhuman islet cellsislets of Langerhans