Researchers at Umeå University used advanced 3D imaging to map entire human pancreases at microscopic resolution, comparing non-diabetic donors with a donor who had late-onset type 1 diabetes. Published as a peer-reviewed release.
While most insulin-producing β-cells in the islets of Langerhans were destroyed in the type 1 diabetic pancreas, hundreds of thousands of insulin-positive cells still remained.
Why it matters:
- Unexpected location: These surviving β-cells were mostly found outside traditional islets — as individual cells or small clusters separated from other endocrine cell types. This is the inverse of non-diabetic pancreases, where β-cells are mainly islet-associated.
- Challenges old assumptions: Traditional studies focus only on islets, so they likely underestimate how many β-cells actually survive in type 1 diabetes.
- Therapeutic potential: The cells may be more resistant to autoimmune destruction, or new β-cells might still form. If certain pancreatic microenvironments promote β-cell survival, they could become targets for therapies aimed at stabilizing or expanding remaining β-cells.
Prof. Ulf Ahlgren says the pancreas can retain β-cells “in a way that has not previously been recognized.” Doctoral student Joakim Lehrstrand adds, “we must look beyond the islets when studying β‑cell biology in type 1 diabetes.”
The whole-organ 3D imaging method lets scientists study individual cells throughout the entire organ. The team believes this will be key for future research into type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and pancreatic cancer, by helping isolate specific regions for molecular analysis.