Posted by Gabrielle on February 08, 2001 at 21:10:11:
This paper argues that it is not a tissue-specific antigen which makes the islets susceptible to rejection nor the ability of these islets to stimulate T-cells , but rather the relatively small graft size, sensitivity to cytokines, and requirement for revascularization which induce susceptibility to rejection.
Also claims few dendritic cells in islets, and a relative insusceptibility to transplantation-induced expression of class II's on the islet cells.