Ommaya Artificial Organ for Islet Transplantation

The research seeks to establish the feasibility of a microencapsulation device containing isletcells for the treatment of insulin dependent diabetes. The device is a direct application of the spinal fluidflow driven artificial organ invented by the P.I. (U.S. Patent No. 5,222,982). Preliminary experimentsin vitro and in vivo (canine model) indicate that xenograft islet cells are immune protected while livingin CSF, CSF glucose follows serum glucose, islets in CSF release insulin with lag times less than 25minutes and diabetic dogs display decrease of serum glucose and insulin requirements under short-termobservation. These data are presented in the body of our proposal. We seek to extend and completethese observations for longer periods of treatment with larger numbers of islets and confirm the immuneprotection including the lack of significant host sensitization to proteins associated with the xenogeneicislets. The work will be carried on as before using a CRADA with Dr. Illani Atwater at NIDDK/NIH andwith Dr. J. Bacher at NCRR/NIH.