Current status of research on the reduction of acute rejection after pancreatic islet transplantation in type 1 diabetes mellitus

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is primarily characterized by the selective destruction of pancreatic islet β cells by immune cells. Currently, suppressing the attack of the immune system or stimulating the regeneration of β cells is the main therapeutic strategy, but the efficacy of these methods is limited. Pancreatic islet transplantation, as a promising treatment for T1DM, may induce local inflammation, leading to the release of chemokines and cytokines that attract and activate immune cells, thereby triggering acute rejection of the transplanted islets. Acute rejection of pancreatic islet transplantation can be mitigated through various approaches, including preventing chemokine receptors production, infusing regulatory T cells, blocking cytokine activation, depleting T cells, and reducing the immunogenicity of pancreatic islet. This review focuses on discussing the latest research developments in preventing or alleviating acute rejection of pancreatic islet transplantation.