Editorial
Copyright ©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Mar 14, 2009; 15(10): 1153-1161
Published online Mar 14, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.1153
Islet transplantation and antioxidant management: A comprehensive review
Seyed Sajad Mohseni Salehi Monfared, Bagher Larijani, Mohammad Abdollahi
Seyed Sajad Mohseni Salehi Monfared, Mohammad Abdollahi, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Centre, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417614411, Iran
Seyed Sajad Mohseni Salehi Monfared, Bagher Larijani, Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1411413137, Iran
Author contributions: Mohseni Salehi Monfared SS drafted the paper; Larijani B read the paper and commented; Abdollahi M supervised, reviewed, and edited the paper.
Correspondence to: Mohammad Abdollahi, Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417614411, Iran. mohammad.abdollahi@utoronto.ca
Telephone: +98-21-66959104
Fax: +98-21-66959104
Received: December 29, 2008
Revised: January 24, 2009
Accepted: January 31, 2009
Published online: March 14, 2009
Abstract

Islet transplantation as a promising treatment for type 1 diabetes has received widespread attention. Oxidative stress plays an essential role in cell injury during islet isolation and transplantation procedures. Antioxidants have been used in various studies to improve islet transplantation procedures. The present study reviews the role of oxidative stress and the benefits of antioxidants in islet transplantation procedures. The bibliographical databases Pubmed and Scopus were searched up to November 2008. All relevant human and animal in-vivo and in-vitro studies, which investigated antioxidants on islets, were included. Almost all the tested antioxidants used in the in-vitro studies enhanced islet viability and insulin secretion. Better control of blood glucose after transplantation was the major outcome of antioxidant therapy in all in-vivo studies. The data also indicated that antioxidants improved islet transplantation procedures. Although there is still insufficient evidence to draw definitive conclusions about the efficacy of individual supplements, the benefits of antioxidants in islet isolation procedures cannot be ignored.

Keywords: Antioxidant; Diabetes; Free radical; Islet; Transplant