This Research Topic is the third volume in this series, Progress of Allo- and Xeno-transplantation Facilitating the Initial Xeno-Kidney and Islet Clinical Trials. Please see Volume I here and Volume II here.

Owing to the availability of more advanced genetically engineered pigs, more immunological and physiological barriers have been overcome. With the results of pig organ xenotransplantation steadily improving, consideration is now given to the first clinical trials of xenotransplantation. The first step is kidneys, but possibilities also exist in pig islet transplantation for patients with diabetes. Progresses in the following research fields are important to facilitate the first clinical trials, which include:

1. What is the emerging role of nanotechnology in islet and kidney transplantation?

2. What is the therapy efficacy of engineering islets from stem cells for diabetes?

3. What is the therapy efficacy of combined cell therapy (MSC, Treg, and so on) with islet or kidney transplantation?

4. What is the optimal pig for the initial clinical trials of pig kidney or islet transplantation?

5. What is the relationship between the islet or kidney graft microenvironment (immune cells, vascular endothelial cells, inflammatory cytokines) and survival?

6. Does sensitization to a pig graft affect the success of a subsequent kidney or islet allograft?

7. Does HLA sensitization affect the success of a pig kidney or islet xenograft?

8. What would be included in the immunological assessment of patients being considered for the initial clinical trials of pig kidney or islet xenotransplantation?

9. What is the optimal immunosuppressive regimen for the initial clinical trials of pig kidney or islet transplantation?

The goal of this Research Topic is to provide a forum to advance research that will facilitate the first clinical trials of kidney or islet xenotransplantation, such as the preferred transplantation site for pig islet xenotransplantation, the optimal pigs, and immunosuppressive therapy in the attempt to have a beneficial effect on kidney or islet xenotransplantation. We welcome manuscripts on the following subtopics:

1) The emerging role of nanotechnology in islet and kidney transplantation

2) The therapy efficacy of engineering islets from stem cells for advanced therapies for diabetes

3) The mechanism and therapy efficacy of combined cell therapy (MSC, Treg, and so on) with islet or kidney transplantation.

4) The optimal pigs for the initial clinical trials of pig kidney or islet xenotransplantation

5) The relationship between the islet or kidney graft microenvironment (immune cells, vascular endothelial cells, inflammatory cytokines) and survival

6) The role of sensitization to a pig graft to the success of a subsequent kidney or islet allograft

7) The role of HLA sensitization in the success of a pig kidney or islet xenograft

8) The possible immunological assessments of patients considered for clinical trials of pig kidney or islet xenotransplantation

9) The optimal immunosuppressive regimen for the initial clinical trials of pig kidney or islet xenotransplantation.

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