Limiting fat may impact pancreatic transplants

Transplant News,  Sept, 2007  

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Limiting fat might make pancreatic transplants more effective, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center report that research using animal models show that dietary restrictions or other strategies limiting fat formation might make pancreatic cell transplants, according to ScienceDaily.

The study revealed that using pancreatic islet cells transplant into the liver fail not only because of immune cell rejection, but also because of overexposure to toxic fats that are synthesized by surrounding liver cells and flood the pancreatic transplants more effective, the researcher reported in the journal Diabetes.

Roger Unger, MD, professor of internal medicine and senior author of the study, said that by understanding how fats affect the cells "maybe we can improve islet cell transplants and make it last a bit longer."

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