BioCentury
ARTICLE | Targets & Mechanisms

A tolerant alternative to immunosuppression

November 6, 2008 8:00 AM UTC

Two research teams have shown that temporary monotherapy with human a1-antitrypsin can lead to long-term protection against inflammation-mediated and T cell-mediated destruction of islet b-cells in mice. The results, which were achieved without the use of immunosuppressants, could bolster the prospects for islet transplantation in patients with type 1 diabetes by overcoming two of the main drawbacks associated with such therapy: immunosuppressant use and eventual loss of graft function.

Both groups are already planning clinical trials to evaluate AAT in type 1 diabetics...