Cotransplanted hepatic stellate cells enhance vascularization of islet allografts.

Islet transplantation is an alternative to whole pancreas transplantation in curative therapy of diabetics. The outcome of engraftment of islet, however, remains disappointing. Rapid and adequate islet revascularization is crucial for the survival and function of transplanted islets. In this study, hepatic stellate cells (HSC) were cotransplanted with islet allografts, achieving marked prolongation of islet allografts. This was associated with enhanced revascularization within islet grafts as determined by anti-CD31 antibody staining.