The combination of anti-NKG2D and CTLA-4 Ig therapy prolongs islet allograft survival in a murine model.

Islet transplantation is an effective means of treating severe type 1 diabetes in patients with life-threatening hypoglycemia. Improvements in glycemic control with correction of HbA1C enhance quality of life irrespective of insulin independence. By antagonizing the Natural Killer Group 2, member D (NKG2D) receptor expression on NK and CD8+ T cells, in combination with blocking CTLA-4 binding sites, we demonstrate a significant delay of graft rejection in islet allotransplant. Anti-NKG2D combined with CTLA-4 Ig (n = 15) results in prolonged allograft survival, with 84.6 ± 10% of the recipients displaying insulin independence compared to controls (n = 10, p < 0.001). The effect of combination therapy on graft survival is superior to treatments alone (CTLA-4 Ig vs. combination p = 0.024, anti-NKG2D vs. combination p < 0.001) indicating an interaction between these pathways. In addition, combination treatment also improves glucose tolerance when compared to controls (n = 10, p = 0.018). Histologically, NKG2D+ cells were significantly decreased within the allograft after 7 days of combination treatment (n = 6, p = 0.029). T cell proliferation was significantly reduced with anti-NKG2D therapy and CD8+ T cell daughter fractions were also significantly decreased with mAb and combination treatment when measured by in vitro mixed lymphocyte reaction (n = 5, p = 0.015, p = 0.005 and p = 0.048). These results demonstrate that inhibition of NKG2D receptors and costimulatory pathways enhance islet allograft survival.

Human islet viability and function is maintained during high-density shipment in silicone rubber membrane vessels.

BACKGROUND: The shipment of human islets (IE) from processing centers to distant laboratories is beneficial for both research and clinical applications. The maintenance of islet viability and function in transit is critically important. Gas-permeable silicone rubber membrane (SRM) vessels reduce the risk of hypoxia-induced death or dysfunction during high-density islet culture or shipment. SRM vessels may offer additional advantages: they are cost-effective (fewer flasks, less labor needed), safer (lower contamination risk), and simpler (culture vessel can also be used for shipment). METHOD: IE were isolated from two manufacturing centers and shipped in 10-cm(2) surface area SRM vessels in temperature- and pressure-controlled containers to a distant center after at least 2 days of culture (n = 6). Three conditions were examined: low density (LD), high density (HD), and a microcentrifuge tube negative control (NC). LD was designed to mimic the standard culture density for IE preparations (200 IE/cm(2)), while HD was designed to have a 20-fold higher tissue density, which would enable the culture of an entire human isolation in 1-3 vessels. Upon receipt, islets were assessed for viability (measured by oxygen consumption rate normalized to DNA content [OCR/DNA)]), quantity (measured by DNA), and, when possible, potency and function (measured by dynamic glucose-stimulated insulin secretion measurements and transplants in immunodeficient B6 Rag(+/-) mice). Postshipment OCR/DNA was not reduced in HD vs LD and was substantially reduced in the NC condition. HD islets exhibited normal function postshipment. Based on the data, we conclude that entire islet isolations (up to 400,000 IE) may be shipped using a single, larger SRM vessel with no negative effect on viability and ex vivo and in vivo function.