Approaches for imaging islets: recent advances and future prospects.
(2010)
Journal - Advances in experimental medicine and biology (United States )
Abstract :
The establishment of improved technologies for imaging of the pancreas is a key element in addressing several aspects of diabetes pathogenesis. In this respect, the development of a protocol that allows for non-invasive scoring of human islets, or islet beta-cells, is of particular importance. The development of such a technology would have profound impact on both clinical and experimental medicine, ranging from early diagnosis of diabetes to the evaluation of therapeutic regimes. Another important task is the development of modalities for high-resolution imaging of experimental animal models for diabetes. Rodent models for diabetes research have for decades been instrumental to the diabetes research community. The ability to image, and to accurately quantify, key players of diabetogenic processes with molecular specificity will be of great importance for elucidating mechanistic aspects of the disease. This chapter aims to overview current progress within these research areas.
Spleen versus pancreas: strict control of organ interrelationship revealed by analyses of Bapx1–/– mice
(2006)
Journal - Genes &
Abstract :
During early stages of pancreatic development, the mesenchymethat contributes to the spleen overlies the dorsal pancreaticendoderm. Here, we show that interactions between splenic mesenchymeand pancreas proceed via a highly orchestrated morphogeneticprogram. Disruption of morphogenesis, as occurs in the Bapx1(Nkx3.2)–/–embryo, results in transformation of these tissues into well-organized,ectopic gut-like structures. Bapx1 plays a crucial organizingrole effecting position and separation of the spleen and pancreasto prevent this metaplastic transformation. Similar transformationsoccur in organ cultures employing wild-type pancreatic endodermand spleen mesenchyme, revealing the developmental plasticityof the pancreas and that precise spatial and temporal controlof tissue interactions are required for development of bothorgans.4 Present address: Hagedorn Research Institute, Niels StensensVej 6, DK-2820, Gentofte, Denmark.5 Corresponding author.
E-MAIL ulf.ahlgren{at}ucmm.umu.se; FAX 46-90-785-4400.
Supplemental material is available at http://www.genesdev.org.
Article is online at http://www.genesdev.org/cgi/doi/10.1101/gad.381906.
| Keywords : | pancreas • spleen • Bapx1(Nkx3.2) • metaplasia • cyst |
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