Islets of Langerhans articles from across Nature Portfolio

In type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys pancreatic β-cells but not neighbouring α-cells. Here, the authors describe the key differences between β-cells and α-cells that could account for their differential autoimmune vulnerability, and how these differences could result in the preferential endurance and survival of α-cells over β-cells.

This Review summarizes emerging concepts for diabetes therapy aimed at specifically altering β cell biology and function, such as β cell insulin signalling, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, as well as the selective killing of senescent β cells.

Hahn et al. present a method to visualize the endocrine human pancreas in 3D and calculate volumetric data. Using immunolabeling to visualize targets of interest and in reconstructing large tissue parts from imaged cm3-sized tissue blocks, they use their method to reveal previously unknown morphological differences in the endocrine pancreas affected with type 2 diabetes.

The cellular identity and function of the pancreatic polypeptide (Ppy)-producing γ-cells are incompletely understood. Here the authors show that these cells are heterogeneous and display adaptive plasticity to engage in insulin production following β-cell injury, but loss of the Ppy gene or γ-cells in mice does not affect weight or glycemia under basal conditions.

This Review discusses the susceptibility of the fetal immune system to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and the consequences on pancreatic islet development, which might influence the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus in individuals affected by IUGR. The potential for immunomodulation as a therapeutic approach to treat IUGR-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus will also be discussed.