TY  - JOUR
AU  - Ng, Natasha Hui Jin
AU  - Tan, Wei Xuan
AU  - Koh, Ye Xin
AU  - Teo, Adrian Kee Keong
PY  - 2019
DA  - 2019/06/21
TI  - Human Islet Isolation and Distribution Efforts for Clinical and Basic Research
JO  - OBM Transplantation
SP  - 068
VL  - 03
IS  - 02
AB  - The ability to routinely and reproducibly obtain purified human islets has facilitated substantial progress in providing a safe and reliable treatment option for adult patients of type 1 diabetes. The availability of human islets for basic research has also significantly improved the understanding of the biology of human islets, and consequently the pathophysiology of diabetes. Presently, about 70 human islet isolation centers are known to exist around the world, in addition to multiple coordinated human islet distribution programs, that facilitate the exchange of knowledge and sharing of this precious resource. This review summarizes the steps involved in the isolation and dissemination of human islets, and discusses key considerations with respect to the major challenges faced during this process. Another important objective of this review is to summarize the ongoing efforts for the distribution of human islets at the regional, national, and international levels. This review also highlights the value of human islets for clinical transplantation as well as basic research, particularly by highlighting selected studies that have significantly improved our understanding of human islet biology.
SN  - 2577-5820
UR  - https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.transplant.1902068
DO  - 10.21926/obm.transplant.1902068
ID  - Ng2019
ER  -