Haval Shirwan
University of Louisville, USA
Title: PLG scaff olds engineered with an immunomodulatory molecule as an effective means of establishing localized tolerance to pancreatic islet grafts
Biography
Biography: Haval Shirwan
Abstract
Transplantation of allogeneic pancreatic islets is an effective means of treating type1 diabetes (T1D). However, widespread application of this approach is hampered by the need for chronic immunosuppression to control rejection. Immunosuppressive agents used in the clinic have various adverse effects that compromise the life quality of graft recipients. The development of immunomodulatory approaches that induce tolerance without the need for chronic immunosuppression is an immediate medical need. In this study, we engineered PLG scaffolds with SA-FasL as an immunomodulatory molecule and demonstrated that allogenic islets loaded on the engineered scaffolds when transplanted into epididymal fat pad of allogeneic recipients under a short course of rapamycin (15 daily doses only) achieved indefinite survival. Importantly, the grafted islets normalized blood glucose levels, demonstrating function. Thus, PLG scaffolds engineered with SA-FasL represent a novel immunomodulatory concept for the induction of tolerance to islet allografts with significant translational potential.