IMMUNOISOLATION - AT A TURNING-POINT

The principle of immunoisolation is to separate transplanted cells fro m the hostile immunological environment of the host by a selectively p ermeable membrane. Low-molecular-weight substances such as nutrients, electrolytes, oxygen and biotherapeutic agents are exchanged across th e membrane, while immunocytes, antibodies and other transplant-rejecti on effector mechanisms are excluded. Here, Robert Lanza and William Ch ick review these systems.