The future direction toward immunological issues of allo-and xeno-islet transplantation

Islet transplantation can effectively control the blood glucose of fragile type 1 diabetes patients, thus significantly reducing hyperglycemia and improving HbA1c, and has become one of the ideal options for the treatment of type 1 diabetes patients. However, despite great progress, current islet transplantation is still limited by the isolation process, the culture period, and the rapid decline in islet functional activity after transplantation. Long-term survival and function of islet grafts are affected by non-immune and immune-related factors. To overcome these obstacles, various strategies, including stem cell combination transplantation, have been used for islet transplantation. Stem cells can promote vascular regeneration of islets and reduce inflammation and innate immune damage in the early stage of islet transplantation through potential immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, combined transplantation of islets and stem cells can improve the survival rate of islets. In view of this, we are very honored and pleased to have some of the leading research groups in diabetes research contribute to the topic of islet transplantation.

This special issue of the current landscape is dedicated to summarizing the latest advancements in allogenic and xenogenic islet transplantation and strategies to overcome its current limitations. Diversified topics related to islet isolation, islet transplantation, stem cells, immune regulation, angiogenesis, and strategies overcoming immune responses are welcome.

- Discovery of novel therapies and therapeutic targets in programmed islet cell death mediated by either acute rejection or chronic rejection
- Investigations on new material encapsulation and transplantation to overcome the immune responses
- Identify novel subgroup of T cells in allogenic and xenogenic islet transplantation
- Biomarkers that predict the outcome of islet transplantation
- New ways to enhance the effectiveness of allo- and xeno-islet transplantation
- The role of immune suppressant toward islet: foe or angel

Original research, reviews and mini-reviews papers are welcome.