The Potential of Composite Pig Islets-Kidney Xenotransplantation to Cure Diabetes and Renal Failure: A Suggested Modified Approach.

Abstract

Autologous islet implantation in the kidney subcapsular space of pigs and baboons and subsequent allotransplantation of the composite islet-kidney graft have been demonstrated to be successful, but the limited availability of human islets limits this approach in clinical practice. The implantation of neonatal pig islets under the kidney capsule of an identical cloned piglet and subsequent transplantation into a human patient with diabetic nephropathy could potentially correct both diabetes and renal failure. Neonatal pig islets can become revascularized in cloned littermates in the absence of immunosuppressive therapy, but a very large number of donors may be required.