Allogeneic islet transplantation with monitoring of islet‐specific cellular autoimmunity in a Japanese patient with type 1 diabetes: A case report

Abstract

Abstract Here, we report a case of allogeneic islet transplantation in Japan. A 48‐year‐old man received intraportal islet transplantation (5,945 islet equivalent/kg), and stabilization of blood glucose levels and suppression of hypoglycemia were achieved. In the present case, we used our original assessment method to detect the responses of the recipient’s T cells to islet autoantigens over time to monitor cellular autoimmunity. Other markers could not predict graft dysfunction in advance, but our method detected the activation of islet antigen‐specific CD8+ T‐cell responses before the deterioration of pancreatic β‐cell function, indicating the possibility of the non‐invasive detection of pancreatic β‐cell damage due to recurrent autoimmunity.

Keywords

• Autoimmune response
• Type 1 diabetes mellitus
• Islet transplantation