Basic Research
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 14, 2005; 11(18): 2733-2738
Published online May 14, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i18.2733
Effects of mycophenolate mofetil vs cyclosporine administration on graft survival and function after islet allotransplantation in diabetic rats
Constantin Fotiadis, Paraskevi Xekouki, Apostolos E Papalois, Pantelis T Antonakis, Ioannis Sfiniadakis, Dimitrios Flogeras, Eleutheria Karampela, George Zografos
Constantin Fotiadis, Paraskevi Xekouki, Pantelis T Antonakis, George Zografos, 3rd Department of Surgery, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece
Apostolos E Papalois, Eleutheria Karampela, Experimental-Research Unit ELPEN Pharma, Athens, Greece
Ioannis Sfiniadakis, Dimitrios Flogeras, Department of Pathology, Naval Hospital, Athens, Greece
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Special Research Fund, Account Code: 4280, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
Correspondence to: Constantin Fotiadis, Associate Professor in Surgery, 3rd Department of Surgery, Athens University Medical School, 12 Diligiani str, 14561, Athens, Greece. costfot@yahoo.gr
Telephone: +30-210-6230600
Received: October 30, 2004
Revised: October 31, 2004
Accepted: December 8, 2004
Published online: May 14, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To develop an experimental model of islet allotran-splantation in diabetic rats and to determine the positive or adverse effects of MMF as a single agent.

METHODS: Thirty-six male Wistar rats and 18 male Lewis rats were used as recipients and donors respectively. Diabetes was induced by the use of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) intraperitoneally. Unpurified islets were isolated using the collagenase digestion technique and transplanted into the splenic parenchyma. The recipients were randomly assigned to one of the following three groups: group A (control group) had no immunosuppression; group B received cyclosporine (CsA) (5 mg/kg); group C received mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) (20 mg/kg). The animals were killed on the 12th d. Blood and grafted tissues were obtained for laboratory and histological assessment.

RESULTS: Median allograft survival was significantly higher in the two therapy groups than that in the controls (10 and 12 d for CsA and MMF respectively vs 0 d for the control group, P<0.01). No difference in allograft survival between the CsA and MMF groups was found. However, MMF had less renal and hepatic toxicity and allowed weight gain.

CONCLUSION: Monotherapy with MMF for immunosu-ppression was safe in an experimental model of islet allotransplantation and was equally effective with cyclosporine, with less toxicity.

Keywords: Diabetes; Islet transplantation; Rats; Mycophenolate mofetil; Cyclosporine