For a more complete review of the guidelines, with information important for Type 2 diabetes, see Classification and Diagnosis of Diabetes . The research information presented at the conference included work that is in various states of completion. Many discussions after presentations demonstrated lack of consensus on the meaning of test results or epidemiologic data. The information presented here is exciting, but should not be interpreted to mean anything other than what is presented. Both of these must be eliminated for islet cell transplants to work.
Scientists mask certain antigens on the porcine cells that trigger the immune response.
This prevents graft rejection but does not interfere with other immune system function. This technique has been used successfully in a small number of human patients with Parkinson's Disease in which fetal porcine neurons were implanted into the patients' brains. There is evidence that the destruction of transplanted islet cells is caused by free radicals and that this destruction can be reduced or prevented by the introduction of agents that stop free radicals at the time of transplant. Further, treatment with CTLA4Ig was shown to modify the animal's immune system. NOD mice that received an allogenic transplant of islet cells in conjunction with CTLA4Ig, had the graft removed, and later had another graft implanted from the same source as the original graft, were able to remain insulin-free, proving that CTLA4Ig changed the underlying immune system of the mouse so that it did not present the autoimmunity that causes IDDM after transplant.