Detection of intrahepatic human islets following combined liver-islet allotransplantation

Pancreas. 1992;7(4):507-9. doi: 10.1097/00006676-199207000-00014.

Abstract

This article describes the localization of intact insulin-containing intrahepatic islets after combined liver-islet allotransplantation. The patient was a 36-year-old woman who underwent upper abdominal exenteration for neuroendocrine carcinoma; 289,000 islets were transplanted via portal vein infusion immediately after complete revascularization of the liver. Immunosuppression was with low-dose FK-506. OKT3 and steroids were used to treat one rejection episode 2 weeks after transplantation, but the patient subsequently developed multiple infections and died 109 days after transplantation. At autopsy, the transplanted liver did not show any sign of rejection and well-preserved islets were present in portal triads sampled from the anterior inferior edge of the right lobe. Immunohistochemical labeling confirmed the presence of insulin-containing cells. This finding indicated that human islets can survive after intrahepatic allotransplantation, despite positive cross-match with no HLA antigen match, suggesting that upper abdominal exenteration and liver transplantation may constitute a protective factor for the survival of allogeneic human islets.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Autopsy
  • Female
  • Histocompatibility
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Insulin / analysis
  • Islets of Langerhans / chemistry
  • Islets of Langerhans / immunology
  • Islets of Langerhans / pathology*
  • Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / immunology
  • Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / pathology*
  • Liver / chemistry
  • Liver / immunology
  • Liver / pathology*
  • Liver Transplantation / immunology
  • Liver Transplantation / pathology*
  • Transplantation, Homologous

Substances

  • Insulin