Infusion of donor-specific regulatory T cells prolonged islet allograft survival in mice

Objective To investigate the effects of donor-specific regulatory T cells （Treg） transfusion on islet allograft survival. Methods Allogeneic fresh islets from Balb/c mice were transplanted to streptozotocin-induced diabetic C57 mice. The survival of islet allografts was observed. The experiment was divided into 3 groups： control group, nothing had been done to the recipients; simple islet transplantation group, the recipients received the islet transplantation only; experimental group, the recipients were given 1 ×106 Treg, then received islet transplantation. Results Blood glucose （BG） was above 16. 7 mmol/L after islet transplantation in control group; In simple islet transplantation group,BG level returned to normal level 1 to 2 days after transplantation, and hyperglycemia appeared 7 to 11 days after transplantation and maintained as the same as that before transplantation; In experimental group, BG level returned to normal level 2 days after transplantation and maintained at a low level,and at the 21st day after transplantation BG level was over 16. 7mmol/L in some recipients. Islet allograft survival in experimental group was significantly prolonged as compared with simple islet transplantation group. Conclusion Donor-specific Treg transfusion could prolong the islet allograft survival,and maybe have positive effect on tolerance induction of islet transplantation. Key words: Mice;  Islets of langerhans transplantatiom Regulatory T-lymphocytes~ Diabetesmellitus