We report a streptozotocin-induced diabetic cynomolgus monkey that developed acute gastric dilatation within the first week after intraportal porcine islet transplantation. The monkey presented with increasing anorexia and somnolence, associated with persistent metabolic acidosis. On physical examination, a diffuse mass was palpable in the abdomen. Because of its deteriorating clinical condition, the monkey was euthanized. Necropsy revealed acute gastric dilatation. Potential etiological factors, possible methods of prevention, and guidelines for management are reviewed, with special emphasis on the incidence and management of acute gastric dilatation in non-human primates.

This review, in addition to updating the growing list of type 1 diabetes-relevant gene therapies, offers an outline of short-term objectives that can readily be met to move, at least, adenoviral and adeno-associated viral-based protocols into the clinic, first as a means of facilitating islet allografts as well as platforms with which to introduce immunoregulatory transgenes. A wide array of genes have been tested to restore insulin production, to drive the differentiation of insulin-producing progenitors, and to confer immunosuppression in an antigen-and tissue-restricted manner.

This review, in addition to updating the growing list of type 1 diabetes- relevant gene therapies, offers an outline of short-term objectives that can readily be met to move, at least, adenoviral and adeno-associated viral-based protocols into the clinic, first as a means of facilitating islet allografts as well as platforms with which to introduce immunoregulatory transgenes. A wide array of genes have been tested to restore insulin production, to drive the differentiation of insulin-producing progenitors, and to confer immunosuppression in an antigen- and tissue-restricted manner.