AUTHOR=Clavijo Jordan Veronica , Hines Catherine D. G. , Gantert Liza T. , Wang Shubing , Conarello Stacey , Preihs Christian , Chirayil Sara , Klimas Michael , Evelhoch Jeffrey L. , Sherry A. Dean TITLE=Imaging Beta-Cell Function in the Pancreas of Non-Human Primates Using a Zinc-Sensitive MRI Contrast Agent JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology VOLUME=12 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2021.641722 DOI=10.3389/fendo.2021.641722 ISSN=1664-2392 ABSTRACT=
Non-invasive beta cell function measurements may provide valuable information for improving diabetes diagnostics and disease management as the integrity and function of pancreatic beta cells have been found to be compromised in Type-1 and Type-2 diabetes. Currently, available diabetes assays either lack functional information or spatial identification of beta cells. In this work, we introduce a method to assess the function of beta cells in the non-human primate pancreas non-invasively with MRI using a Gd-based zinc(II) sensor as a contrast agent, Gd-CP027. Additionally, we highlight the role of zinc(II) ions in the paracrine signaling of the endocrine pancreas