About this Research Topic
The loss of functional beta cell mass is the central pathology of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Rodent based models of pancreatic islets, especially genetically modified mice have dramatically increased our understanding of pathophysiology of pancreatic islets in the last 20 plus year. However, we are often reminded that human islets are very different from mouse islets in many aspects including structure, gene expression, regulation of secretory function, and stress response. While there are several rodent models of diabetes to allow modelling of disease process in vivo and assess inter-organ communications, mouse models of diabetes do not necessarily capture numerous characteristics seen in islets affected by human diabetes. New approaches based on human islets may fill the current gap in knowledge and provide better understanding of pathophysiology of human pancreatic islets.
Considering the recent progress in research based on human pancreatic islets, it is timely and informative to provide a comprehensive review of emerging human islet models. The goal of this Research Topic is to increase the awareness and understanding of available techniques so that the incorporation of models will be promoted by a wide range of researchers without previous experience. Research articles that focus on the use of human models or the development of human models will also highlight the benefit and the current challenges in utilizing human islet-based models. Ultimately, we hope to stimulate research that improves our understanding of molecular mechanisms of islet failure in diabetes and to provide new directions in human islet research.
The Research Topic aims to collect series of review, mini review, and original research articles in the areas below.
• In slico analysis of available human sequencing/metabolomic/proteomic data. Examples of application and available resources
• Human pseudoislets and islet on a chip as models of human islets
• Human pancreas section to study human islets in site
• Stem cell derived beta cell like cells as the beta cell model
• Human islet transplant model to understand pathogenesis of beta cell failure in vivo
• Humanized mice to study pathogenesis of diabetes and efficacy of diabetes treatment
• Development of a protocol or characterization of human beta cell line and human beta cells in culture to dissect beta cell function and health
• High resolution imaging of beta cells in humans in vivo
• Studies based on a new form of a beta/islet model based on human cells
• Studies to develop a new beta/islet model based on human cells
Considering the recent progress in research based on human pancreatic islets, it is timely and informative to provide a comprehensive review of emerging human islet models. The goal of this Research Topic is to increase the awareness and understanding of available techniques so that the incorporation of models will be promoted by a wide range of researchers without previous experience. Research articles that focus on the use of human models or the development of human models will also highlight the benefit and the current challenges in utilizing human islet-based models. Ultimately, we hope to stimulate research that improves our understanding of molecular mechanisms of islet failure in diabetes and to provide new directions in human islet research.
The Research Topic aims to collect series of review, mini review, and original research articles in the areas below.
• In slico analysis of available human sequencing/metabolomic/proteomic data. Examples of application and available resources
• Human pseudoislets and islet on a chip as models of human islets
• Human pancreas section to study human islets in site
• Stem cell derived beta cell like cells as the beta cell model
• Human islet transplant model to understand pathogenesis of beta cell failure in vivo
• Humanized mice to study pathogenesis of diabetes and efficacy of diabetes treatment
• Development of a protocol or characterization of human beta cell line and human beta cells in culture to dissect beta cell function and health
• High resolution imaging of beta cells in humans in vivo
• Studies based on a new form of a beta/islet model based on human cells
• Studies to develop a new beta/islet model based on human cells
Keywords: pancreatic beta cells, beta cell failure, beta cell dysfunction, species, insulin secretion
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