Objective To summarize and analyze the different modality on molecular imaging of tracking and monitoring for islet transplantation.Methods The current domestic and foreign reports on molecular imaging of islet transplantation were reviewed.Results Magnetic resonance imaging has high sensitivity,high spatial resolution,no ionizing radiation,is clinically applicable,and could be used of real-time MR-guided injections,but can’t discriminate between liver and dead cells,difficult to do in patients with liver iron overload.Nuclear molecular imaging only displays liver cells generate signal,is clinically applicable,but disadvantage is genetic manipulation,ionizing radiation,no anatomical information,low spatial resolution.The advantage of in vivo optical imaging is only liver cells generate signal,widely available,no ionizing radiation,and the disadvantage is genetic manipulation,not clinically applicable,low spatial resolution.Conclusions Islet imaging using magnetic resonance,nuclear molecular imaging,in vivo optical imaging,or multimodal imaging of microencapsulated islets may provide us with a direct means to interrogate islet cell distribution,survival,and function.Multimodal imaging of microencapsulated islets may be best way for tracking and monitoring in the future.
Objective To summarize the feasibility and safety of the islet cells co-transplantation with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in the treatment of diabetes. Methods The latest progress and new achievements of islet cells transplantation and BMSCs transplantation in treatment of diabetes in the world were analyzed and reviewed. Results At present, the pancreas transplantation and the islet cells transplantation were mainly treatments for diabetes, the pancreas transplantation had disadvantages of large trauma and high mortality; the islet cells transplantation was safe, but had disadvantages of strong rejection, and the survival time of islets cells were short which affected the treatment effect of diabetes. The BMSCs co-transplanted with the islet cells could prolong the survival time of islet cells and could alleviate the rejection in body, so the co-transplantation can be more effective in treatment of diabetes. Conclusion The BMSCs co-transplant with the islet cells could reduce the rejection in vivo, reduce the inflammation in vivo, prolong the survival time of islet cells, extend the time of normal glucose, which may become the new treatment method for the diabetes.