Posted by Al Gordon on June 05, 1999 at 11:40:08:
In Reply to: Video Interview with Dr. Kenyon posted by Mary E. on June 04, 1999 at 17:17:17:
Anti-CD154 is a very significant development, and one that gives me great hope. So far, the animals that have received a short duration dose of anti-CD154 have shown no adverse effects. When you compare these results to traditional toxic immunosuppression, it is obviously a breakthrough.
What I am anxiously awaiting is the efficacy of anti-CD154 on pig islets transplanted into primates, as pig islets are our only hope today of having an adequate source.
I have one point of confusion here that someone may be able to clarify. I understood that anti-CD154 was given only for a few weeks, and the immunotolerance continued thereafter with no further administration of the drug. In the video, the commentator states that anti-CD154 "kept diabetic monkeys off insulin for over a year, and they remained insulin-free for several months after the drug was discontinued." Does that mean that the drug's effect was not sustaining? Or does it mean that that only a few months have passed since discontinuance, and the effect is still persisting?
Al