Abstract
Purpose :
Pancreatic islet transplantation into the anterior chamber of the eye (ACE) has been shown to improve the glycaemic control and metabolic parameters in both Type-1 and Type-2 diabetic non-human primates (NHPs). This novel transplantation site also allows the delivery of therapeutic agents, such as immunosuppressive drugs, locally to circumvent unwanted systemic side effects.
Methods :
Local anti-inflammatory or immunosuppression treatment using micronized dexamethasone (DEX) implant was done intravitreally. Allogeneic transplantation of pancreatic islets was done into the ACEs of non-human primates (allogeneic grafts without immunosuppression, CTL, n=2 eyes; allogeneic grafts with local immunosuppression treatment, DEX, n=8 eyes). Survival of the transplanted islet grafts and DEX concentration in the ACE were assessed in parallel for 24 weeks.
Results :
DEX was detected in the aqueous humour of the ACE with a peak at week 8 and started to taper off by week 15. Islet grafts with local DEX treatment showed significantly better survival than the non-treated CTL islets (median survival time- 12 weeks vs 3 weeks, log-rank test p<0.0001). Islet grafts showed a good functional response to high glucose stimulation even though a high dose of DEX showed a transient suppression of islet graft function at week 8 to 12.
Conclusions :
The ACE may turn out to be a novel and superior site for pancreatic islet transplantation to treat diabetes and local dexamethasone treatment is a potential therapeutic approach to maintain long-term function and survival of allogeneic islet grafts.
This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.