Version 1
: Received: 14 February 2018 / Approved: 15 February 2018 / Online: 15 February 2018 (10:42:16 CET)
Version 2
: Received: 2 April 2018 / Approved: 2 April 2018 / Online: 2 April 2018 (11:05:40 CEST)
Sakata, N.; Yoshimatsu, G.; Kodama, S. The Spleen as an Optimal Site for Islet Transplantation and a Source of Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Int. J. Mol. Sci.2018, 19, 1391.
Sakata, N.; Yoshimatsu, G.; Kodama, S. The Spleen as an Optimal Site for Islet Transplantation and a Source of Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19, 1391.
Sakata, N.; Yoshimatsu, G.; Kodama, S. The Spleen as an Optimal Site for Islet Transplantation and a Source of Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Int. J. Mol. Sci.2018, 19, 1391.
Sakata, N.; Yoshimatsu, G.; Kodama, S. The Spleen as an Optimal Site for Islet Transplantation and a Source of Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19, 1391.
Abstract
In this review, we show the unique potential of spleen as an optimal site for islet transplantation and a source of mesenchymal stem cells. Islet transplantation is a cellular replacement therapy to treat severe diabetes mellitus, but its clinical outcome is unsatisfactory at present. One factor in clinical success of this therapy is selection of the most appropriate transplantation site. The spleen has been studied for a long time as a candidate site for islet transplantation. Its advantages include physiological insulin drainage and regulation of immunity. Recently it has also been shown that the spleen contributes to the regeneration of transplanted islets. The efficacy of transplantation is not as high as that obtained with intraportal transplantation, which is the current representative method of clinical islet transplantation. Safer and more effective methods of islet transplantation need to be established before the spleen can be effectively used in the clinic. Spleen also has an interesting aspect as a mesenchymal stem cell reservoir. The splenic mesenchymal stem cells contribute to tissue repair in damaged tissue, and thus, the infusion can be a promising therapy for autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes mellitus and Sjogren’s syndrome.
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
