Mixed chimerism can induce tolerance to alloantigens and restore self-tolerance to autoantigens, thereby permitting islet transplantation. However, the minimal level of donor chimerism that is required to prevent islet allograft rejection and recurrence of autoimmune diabetes has not been established.
Diabetes Institute for Immunology and Transplantation, and Department of Surgery, MMC 195, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455. zhiguang@tc.umn.edu
