Pancreatic Islet Isolation ― From the Mouse to the Clinic

The pancreatic islets, which constitute the endocrine pancreas, contain the only source of insulin in the body, the beta cells. Hence, access to high quality pancreatic islets is fundamental for in vitro studies and for in vivo pre-clinical applications in animal models. Access to high quality human islets is also crucial for clinical transplantation therapy in diabetes. Given the high susceptibility of pancreatic islets to enzymatic and mechanical stress, both required during islet isolation, the process of isolating islet has been described as a delicate “work of a craftsman”. This book, which is aimed at beginners and experts alike, surveys the current state-of–the-art in this field and addresses the challenges, pitfalls, and peculiarities of pancreatic islet isolation from different species in pre-clinical and clinical applications. It explores the similarities and differences between human islets from and those of other relevant species (rodents, pigs, and nonhuman primates), and how these influence islet isolation. This book aims to ultimately improve islet isolation and transplantation outcomes in pre-clinical and clinical applications.

Miriam Ramirez-Dominguez, University of the Basque Country, Faculty of Medicine, Laboratory of Cell Therapy of Diabetes, Leioa, Spain