One of the major underlying issue in both type-1 and type-2 diabetes is the loss of ß-cell mass and function which is critical for maintaining glucose homeostasis. For improving strategies for diabetes therapies, it is important to understand the mechanisms/pathways underlying pancreatic ß-cell development, growth, differentiation and failure. While there are marked differences between mouse and human islets in terms of islet architecture, hormone secretion and electrical properties, there are gaps in knowledge between mouse and human endocrinogenesis. Understanding the pathways governing and regulating ß-cell formation and function would inform the design of therapies for targeting and replacing the ß-cells for diabetes remission.
In this special issue, we aim to cover the recent advances and comprehensive understanding of islet development, regeneration, directed differentiation of hPSC (human pluripotent stem cells) towards beta cells as well as therapeutic targeting and improved methodologies to monitor diabetes progression in mice and humans.
Particular topics of interest are:
• Mechanistical approaches involved in the field of ß-cell development, regeneration, senescence and function.
• Mechanisms of endocrine cell development, cell fate and maturation during health and disease.
• In vivo approaches for pharmacological targeting of ß-/a cell for treating metabolic diseases.
• Improvement of current methodologies for in-vivo/in-vitro islet functionality (e.g. Glucose stimulated insulin secretion, live-imaging/ longitudinal in-vivo imaging of islet/stem-cell derived ß-cell grafts/organoids etc)
• Functional and molecular characterization of novel protocols for directed differentiation of hPSC towards pancreatic endocrine cells
• Bioprint and bioengineering field applied to islet cells derived from hPSC
Original Research, Reviews and Mini Reviews are welcome for submission.
One of the major underlying issue in both type-1 and type-2 diabetes is the loss of ß-cell mass and function which is critical for maintaining glucose homeostasis. For improving strategies for diabetes therapies, it is important to understand the mechanisms/pathways underlying pancreatic ß-cell development, growth, differentiation and failure. While there are marked differences between mouse and human islets in terms of islet architecture, hormone secretion and electrical properties, there are gaps in knowledge between mouse and human endocrinogenesis. Understanding the pathways governing and regulating ß-cell formation and function would inform the design of therapies for targeting and replacing the ß-cells for diabetes remission.
In this special issue, we aim to cover the recent advances and comprehensive understanding of islet development, regeneration, directed differentiation of hPSC (human pluripotent stem cells) towards beta cells as well as therapeutic targeting and improved methodologies to monitor diabetes progression in mice and humans.
Particular topics of interest are:
• Mechanistical approaches involved in the field of ß-cell development, regeneration, senescence and function.
• Mechanisms of endocrine cell development, cell fate and maturation during health and disease.
• In vivo approaches for pharmacological targeting of ß-/a cell for treating metabolic diseases.
• Improvement of current methodologies for in-vivo/in-vitro islet functionality (e.g. Glucose stimulated insulin secretion, live-imaging/ longitudinal in-vivo imaging of islet/stem-cell derived ß-cell grafts/organoids etc)
• Functional and molecular characterization of novel protocols for directed differentiation of hPSC towards pancreatic endocrine cells
• Bioprint and bioengineering field applied to islet cells derived from hPSC
Original Research, Reviews and Mini Reviews are welcome for submission.
