Isolation of Human Islets for Autologous Islet Transplantation in Children and Adolescents with Chronic Pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease of the pancreas that causes permanent changes in the function and structure of the pancreas. It is most commonly a complication of cystic fibrosis or due to a genetic predisposition. Chronic pancreatitis generally presents symptomatically as recurrent abdominal pain, which becomes persistent over time. The pain eventually becomes disabling. Once specific medical treatments and endoscopic interventions are no longer efficacious, total pancreatectomy is the alternative of choice for helping the patient achieve pain control. While daily administrations of digestive enzymes cannot be avoided, insulin-dependent diabetes can be prevented by transplanting the isolated pancreatic islets back to the patient. The greater the number of islets infused, the greater the chance to prevent or at least control the effects of surgical diabetes. We present here a technical approach for the isolation and preservation of the islets proven to be efficient to obtain high numbers of islets, favoring the successful treatment of young patients

Antimicrobial proteins and polypeptides in pulmonary innate defence

Inspired air contains a myriad of potential pathogens, pollutants and inflammatory stimuli. In the normal lung, these pathogens are rarely problematic. This is because the epithelial lining fluid in the lung is rich in many innate immunity proteins and peptides that provide a powerful anti-microbial screen. These defensive proteins have anti-bacterial, anti- viral and in some cases, even anti-fungal properties. Their antimicrobial effects are as diverse as inhibition of biofilm formation and prevention of viral replication. The innate immunity proteins and peptides also play key immunomodulatory roles. They are involved in many key processes such as opsonisation facilitating phagocytosis of bacteria and viruses by macrophages and monocytes. They act as important mediators in inflammatory pathways and are capable of binding bacterial endotoxins and CPG motifs. They can also influence expression of adhesion molecules as well as acting as powerful anti-oxidants and anti-proteases. Exciting new antimicrobial and immunomodulatory functions are being elucidated for existing proteins that were previously thought to be of lesser importance. The potential therapeutic applications of these proteins and peptides in combating infection and preventing inflammation are the subject of ongoing research that holds much promise for the future

Donation after circulatory death is associated with increased fibrosis on 1‐year post‐transplant kidney allograft surveillance biopsy

AimThe use of kidneys donated after circulatory death (DCD) provides an invaluable expansion of the organ supply for transplantation. Here, we investigated the effect of DCD on fibrotic changes on 1 1‐year post 1‐transplant surveillance kidney allograft biopsy.MethodsRecipients of a deceased donor kidney transplant between 2013 and 2017 at a single institution, who survived 1 year and underwent surveillance biopsy, were included in the analysis (n = 333: 87 DCD kidneys, 246 kidneys donated after brain death [DBD]). Banff scores for interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy were summed as IFTA and compared between the groups.ResultsDCD and DBD groups were comparable for baseline characteristics. Delayed graft function was 39% in DCD versus 19% in DBD, P = .0002. Patient and graft survival were comparable for DCD and DBD cohorts. IFTA scores were higher in DCD compared to DBD (2.43±..13 vs. 2.01±..08, P = .0054). On multivariate analysis, the odds of IFTA > 2 in the DCD group was 2.5× higher (95%CI: 1.354.63) than in the DBD group. Within the DCD group, kidneys with IFTA > 2 had inferior 5‐year graft survival (P = .037).ConclusionCompared to DBD kidneys, DCD kidneys developed a greater degree of fibrotic changes on 1‐year post‐transplant surveillance biopsy, which affected graft longevity within the DCD cohort.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/170896/1/ctr14399.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/170896/2/ctr14399_am.pd

836-P: Glucose-Dependent Insulin Production and Insulin-Independence in Type 1 Diabetes from Stem Cell–Derived, Fully Differentiated Islet Cells—Updated Data from the VX-880 Clinical Trial

VX-880 is an investigational allogeneic stem cell-derived, fully differentiated, pancreatic islet cell replacement therapy being evaluated in a phase 1/2 clinical trial in patients with T1D and impaired hypoglycemic awareness and severe hypoglycemia. The phase 1/2 trial has three parts: Part A in which 2 patients are enrolled sequentially and receive half the target dose (presented at ADA 2022), Part B in which 5 patients are enrolled sequentially and receive the target (full) dose, and Part C where 10 patients are enrolled concurrently and receive the target (full) dose. The first two patients infused with VX-880 at half the target dose (in Part A) had restored insulin production and glucose control. One of these patients achieved and has maintained insulin independence, defined as at least one week off exogenous insulin, HbA1C ≤7%, post-prandial serum glucose at 90 minutes ≤180 mg/dL, fasting serum glucose ≤126 mg/dL, and fasting or stimulated C-peptide ≥166 pmol/L (latter 3 measured during mixed-meal tolerance test). The safety profile was consistent with the immunosuppressive regimen used in the study and the perioperative period. Part B is now fully enrolled and multiple patients have been dosed with the full (target) dose. Longer-term data on both patients in Part A and new data on patients who received the full (target) dose in Part B will be provided in the presentation. These results are the first from a clinical trial of allogeneic, fully differentiated, insulin producing, stem cell-derived islets which has demonstrated the potential to restore insulin production and glycemic control and provide insulin independence in patients with T1D. Disclosure T.W.Reichman: Consultant; Sernova, Corp., Research Support; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. J.L.Shih: Employee; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. C.Wang: Employee; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. D.Melton: None. F.Pagliuca: Employee; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Stock/Shareholder; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. B.Sanna: Employee; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. L.S.Kean: Advisory Panel; HiFiBio, Mammoth Biosciences, Consultant; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Other Relationship; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Research Support; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Adaptive Biotechnologies, Merck & Co., Inc., Tessera, Novartis. A.L.Peters: Advisory Panel; Abbott Diabetes, Medscape, Novo Nordisk, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Zealand Pharma A/S, Research Support; Abbott Diabetes, Dexcom, Inc., Insulet Corporation, Stock/Shareholder; Omada Health, Inc., Livongo. P.Witkowski: Advisory Panel; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Novartis. M.R.Rickels: Consultant; Sernova, Corp., Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Zealand Pharma A/S, Research Support; Dompé. C.Ricordi: Advisory Panel; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. A.Naji: None. J.F.Markmann: None. B.A.Perkins: Advisory Panel; Dexcom, Inc., Insulet Corporation, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Other Relationship; Abbott, Medtronic, Sanofi, Research Support; Novo Nordisk, Bank of Montreal (BMO). M.Wijkstrom: None. S.Paraskevas: None. B.Bruinsma: Employee; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. G.Marigowda: Employee; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated