Editorial
Copyright ©2011 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 21, 2011; 17(47): 5150-5155
Published online Dec 21, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i47.5150
Utility of co-transplanting mesenchymal stem cells in islet transplantation
Naoaki Sakata, Masafumi Goto, Gumpei Yoshimatsu, Shinichi Egawa, Michiaki Unno
Naoaki Sakata, Gumpei Yoshimatsu, Shinichi Egawa, Michiaki Unno, Division of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan
Masafumi Goto, Division of Advanced Surgical Science and Technology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan
Masafumi Goto, New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan
Author contributions: Sakata N designed this review and wrote the first draft; Egawa S, Goto M and Yoshimatsu G revised the draft; and Unno M approved the final version to be published.
Supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, C: 22591513; the Uehara Memorial Foundation, NS; and Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, B: 22390253, SE
Correspondence to: Naoaki Sakata, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Division of Hepato-Biliary Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan. n-sakata@surg1.med.tohoku.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-22-7177205 Fax: +81-22-7177209
Received: March 24, 2011
Revised: June 20, 2011
Accepted: June 27, 2011
Published online: December 21, 2011
Abstract

Islet transplantation is characterized by the transplantation of isolated islets from donor pancreata into a diabetic recipient. Although it is a viable choice in the treatment of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, most patients (approximately 90%) require insulin five years after transplantation. Recently, the co-transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and islets in animal studies has revealed the effectiveness of MSCs co-transplantation for improving islet function. The mechanisms underlying the beneficial impact of MSCs include immunomodulation and the promotion of angiogenesis. In this review, we discuss MSCs and how they support improved graft survival and function.

Keywords: Mesenchymal stem cell; Islet transplantation; Bone marrow; Immunomodulatory; Regulatory T cell; Angiogenesis; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Diabetes mellitus