<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The induced expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in donor islets improves allograftsurvival. Cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP) could significantly enhance the expression of HO-1 mRNA and protein in rat islet safely. Our work was to study how to protect pancreatic isletxenograft by CoPP-induction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Islet xenografts treated with CoPP-induction and CoPP + Zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) in vitro and in vivo were randomly transplanted into murine subrenal capsule; then the graft survivaltime was compared by blood glucose level and pathological examination and meanwhile the interferon γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 10 (IL-10) and IL-1β level in serum and their mRNA and HO-1 mRNA and protein expression were examined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Islets with CoPP-induction under low- and high-glucose stimulation exhibited much higher insulin secretion compared with other three groups. CoPP-induction could increase higher expression of HO-1 (mRNA 3.33- and 76.09-fold in vitro and in vivo; protein 2.85- and 58.72-fold). The normoglycemia time in induction groups ((14.63 ± 1.19) and (16.88 ± 1.64) days) was significantly longer. The pathological examination showed less lymphocyte infiltration in induction groups. The IL-10 level and its mRNA in induction groups were significantly higher.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The HO-1 induced by CoPP would significantly improve function, prolong normoglycemia time and reduce lymphocyte infiltration. Meanwhile CoPP-induction in vivo had more beneficial effects than in vitro. Its mechanism could be related to immune-modulation of IL-10.</p>