Islet transplantation is an alternative to pancreas transplanation as it involves much less invasive surgical procedures for a small diabetes patient population who have difficulties in recognising the hypoglycaemia conditions. Beta cells, together with Alpha cells within islets, sense the blood glucose concentration and response appropriate with it. It is still be best option for people with difficult diabetes control and to prevent the diabetes complications. The current problems are (i) the short term effects (~5-10years' benefit) and (ii) needing islets from 2-3 donors. If takes the 50% islet isolation success rate, it need 4-6 donors for one patient.

I associate myself with Dr. G. Huang and will try to add more facts. First, only islet allotransplantation(aTX) is considered legal in most countries (e.g. Russian Federation). Xenotransplantation (xTX) has its obvious benefits, e.g. practically unlimited source of graft material in case of islet or rabbit pancreatic tissue. On the other hand, xenoTX is much less effective, it's effect is much shorter, it sometimes enhances autoimmune reaction against islet cells. Second, aTX is a very costly procedure. For example, complete cycle of aTX and patient management in Edmonton (Canada) costs ca. 350 000 $. Third, recipients of islet allografts need continuous immunosuppressive therapy, which may cause side effects. Fourth, aTX is practically available only in countries with highly developed cadaveric donor organ exchange system.

Another approach to transplantation therapy of DM type 1 is cell engineering.

Guo Huang said it all, Sebastian. I'd just like to add the need for continuos immunosupressive therapy as another current problem in islet cell transplatation. However, in order to overcome such short term issues, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundaion (JDRF - leading worldwide organization focused in curing Type 1 diabetes) is prioritizing encapsulated implantable islet cells (as stated by JDRF's president and CEO, Jeffrey Brewer), in order to prevent the immune system from attacking those islets, therefore providing insulin content to the patient without the need (hopefully) of any immunosupressive therapy, whatsoever .

there may be a relevant safty issue of cancer induction in the host cells sourrounding the implants. Particularily when metabolic control is less than optimal, with still increased glucose levels and thus islets secrteting insulin at their maiximum capacity. There are only animal data on this, but I find them quite impressive. For review see: Hepatocarcinogenesis following pancreatic islet transplantation in streptozotocin- and autoimmune-diabetic rats. Calvisi DF, et al, Arch Physiol Biochem. 2009 May;115(2):97-104. .

Currently i am working on metabolic syndrome it may be good therapy but if due to transplantation there is elevation of insulin which is harmful for body , i think we should explore the research through either adiponectin or any other natural compound which act through adiponectin receptor that regulate diabetic signaling.

Transplants of Langerhans islands has it's important situation in diabetic therapy.

Neither beta nor langerhans island cell transplants will work. You can ask Dr. Ali Nagi of immunology department at UPENN. The only way is advanced treatments and diagnoses of self cells

@Hani: why do you think it won't work; strong immunological reactions ? Are you a colleague of Dr. Nagi and is it possible to involve him in this discussion?

I quitely agree with Mr.Abhishek Singh regarding Adiponectin.which far superior to B cell transplantationwith all its risks mentioned by

Mr.Guo Huang Kings college hospital London.

Dear Dr. Darr

yes immunology factors. Now I reply on this issue because I have been asked nicley from both UPENN governement grants, us government to do the drug diabetes therapy on beheve of B.C., peace on him while I was working as postdoc at Biophysics Dept of UPENN. I don't want to tell all things about diabetes therapy because I will do that officialy in international confersnce. The point is some people use orther people and steal their. I happened to me and others when Donald Mc Eachron and his followers stolle my PhD thesis and used it in education. When Donald sold my work to MERCK, they got big hit because I did my formula for skeletal muscle and donald told merck to use it in systemic pharmacology. Now with agrrements between some universities in us such Temple medical, my colleage and I will will get the drug diabetes soon. I got the idea and I submitted to Dr. Nokia Shoko and Dr. Daldal of UPENN on Nov. 2010. of course we that me and Dr. Nagi can't give our things for free. medicine of england specially at imperial colleg is old fasion and can't do any good. it is danger.