Monkey in SNU Xenotransplantation Research Centerspan>

SNU Hospital’s Xenotransplantation Research Center (http://www.xenokorea.org/) reported that pig islet grafts survived and maintained normoglycemia for over six months in four of five consecutive immunosuppressed nonhuman primates. Pig islets are an alternative source for islet transplantation to treat type 1 diabetes (T1D). The center isolated pig islets from designated pathogen-free miniature pigs and infused them into diabetic rhesus monkeys. Blood glucose levels were promptly normalized in all five monkeys and normoglycemia (90–110 mg/dL) was maintained for over 6 months in four cases, the longest currently up to 603 days. Most importantly, the recipients showed no serious adverse effects. The results confirm the clinical feasibility of pig islet transplantation to treat T1D patients without the need for excessive immunosuppressive therapy. This research was published in the November 2015 issue of American Journal of Transplantation.

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Summary by LEE Hee Un, SNU English Editor, gurume0221@snu.ac.kr
Proofread by Melora Brett Briana Johnson, morningcalm2@gmail.com