ENDOTOXIN-MEDIATED DELAYED ISLET GRAFT FUNCTION IS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED INTRA-ISLET CYTOKINE PRODUCTION AND ISLET CELL APOPTOSIS1

Primary nonfunction resulting in immediate graft loss is responsible for the failure of a large number of islet transplants. Evidence is accumulating to single out endotoxin contamination of the various reagents needed for islet isolation as a major cause of early graft loss.