A study has found that transplanting pancreatic cells from a donor into the livers of patients with type 1 diabetes may help them live longer. The scientific trial conducted by French scientists showed promising results for type 1 diabetes patients who underwent kidney transplants. About one-third of type 1 diabetes patients will ultimately need a new kidney, as the high blood sugar levels caused by the disease damage blood vessels in the organs. Many patients receiving a transplant will experience kidney failure again within several years. However, data indicate that the innovative procedure—transplanting islet cell tissue—can extend the lifespan of patients without further complications after kidney transplantation.
This technique involves taking special cells, called islet cells, from a donor pancreas. These cells produce insulin, the hormone that maintains stable blood sugar levels. The pancreas is a gland located near the liver. For reasons not completely understood, in type 1 diabetes patients, the immune system attacks the gland, leading to its failure. Through this procedure, islet cells are delivered via catheter into the liver of the diabetic patient simultaneously with the kidney transplant. The liver is the chosen organ because it has a unique property known as immune privilege—it is less likely to trigger an immune response compared to other organs when foreign tissues or cells are transplanted into it.
The new study, presented by scientists at the European Society for Organ Transplantation conference, examined 330 patients who underwent kidney transplants. They found that patients who received islet transplants were 50% less likely to experience kidney failure compared to those who did not receive the treatment, and they lived an average of one year longer. The team from Lille University also found that islet transplant patients were 70% less likely to require regular insulin to manage their blood sugar levels.
