Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion

Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion

The pancreatic islets comprising only 1%-2% of the volume are highly vascularized and innervated mini-organs. They contain five endocrine cell types, including β cells that secrete insulin, which is synthesized as a single polypeptide chain, preproinsulin, processed to proinsulin, and finally to insulin and C-peptide. This process is complex and regulated, involving the Golgi complex, the endoplasmic reticulum, and the secretory granules of the β cell.
Insulin and C-peptide are co-secreted in...

Cells and Secretions of the Pancreas

Cells and Secretions of the Pancreas

The pancreas, a vital organ within the abdominal cavity, plays dual roles in the digestive and endocrine systems, collaborating with exocrine and endocrine cells to maintain optimal digestion and blood sugar levels.
Exocrine function is carried out by acinar cells, organized into clusters known as acini. These cells contribute to digestion by releasing substantial quantities of enzyme-rich, alkaline digestive juices.
Concurrently, the dispersed clusters of endocrine cells throughout the...

Type I Diabetes II: Pathophysiology

Type I Diabetes II: Pathophysiology

Type 1 diabetes mellitus arises from an immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β-cells, resulting in an absolute deficiency of insulin. This process develops in genetically susceptible individuals when autoimmunity, environmental exposures, and immunologic dysregulation converge to trigger a targeted attack on the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. The β-cells are located within the islets of Langerhans and are essential for regulating blood glucose by facilitating cellular uptake of...

Renewal of Intestinal Stem Cells

Renewal of Intestinal Stem Cells

The intestinal epithelial lining rapidly renews every 4 to 5 days. The renewal is facilitated by intestinal stem cells (ISCs) located at the base of the crypt– a gland located at the bottom of each villus. ISCs divide asymmetrically to form new stem cells and progenitor daughter cells. The daughter cells are called transit-amplifying (TA) cells which move upwards along the crypt and either differentiate into absorptive cells– the enterocytes or secretory cells– including the goblet,...

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

T cells are integral to our adaptive immune system, recognizing and effectively responding to foreign antigens. T cell activation and clonal selection are pivotal in orchestrating this immune response. This article elucidates these mechanisms, detailing the roles of cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, costimulatory signals, and the process of clonal selection.
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...

iPS Cell Differentiation

iPS Cell Differentiation

The ability of induced pluripotent stem cells or iPSCs to differentiate into most body cell types has stimulated repair and regenerative medicine research over the past few decades. iPSC-derived blood cells, hepatocytes, beta islet cells, cardiomyocytes, neurons, and other cell types can repair injuries or regenerate damaged tissue in diseases such as diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Direct contact between iPSC-derived macrophages and hepatocytes drives reciprocal acquisition of Kupffer cell identity and hepatocyte maturation.

eLife·2026

Same author

Expert opinion on burning questions in cancer myeloid cell biology.

Journal for immunotherapy of cancer·2026

Same author

Oncogenic PIK3CA mutations shape an immunoregulatory microenvironment in mosaic overgrowth disorders.

PNAS nexus·2026

Same author

Charting spatial ligand-target activity using Renoir.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Expanding the functional repertoire of macrophages as remote healers.

The Journal of clinical investigation·2026

Same author

BCG-trained macrophages promote pan-anti-tumor activity through epigenetic rewiring of NOX2-ROS axis.

Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Insulin-Producing Islet Clusters

Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Insulin-Producing Islet Clusters

Published on: June 23, 2023

Functional specialization of islet dendritic cell subsets.

Na Yin¹, Jiangnan Xu, Florent Ginhoux

¹Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.

Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)

|April 18, 2012

Summary

Two dendritic cell (DC) subsets in pancreatic islets have distinct roles in type 1 diabetes immunity. CD103(+) DCs present antigens, while CD11b(+) DCs, increasing in diabetes, may drive disease pathogenesis.

More Related Videos

Single-cell RNA Sequencing and Analysis of Human Pancreatic Islets

Single-cell RNA Sequencing and Analysis of Human Pancreatic Islets

Published on: July 18, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 23, 2026

Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Insulin-Producing Islet Clusters

Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Insulin-Producing Islet Clusters

Published on: June 23, 2023

Single-cell RNA Sequencing and Analysis of Human Pancreatic Islets

Single-cell RNA Sequencing and Analysis of Human Pancreatic Islets

Published on: July 18, 2019

Area of Science:

Immunology
Endocrinology
Cell Biology

Background:

Dendritic cells (DCs) are crucial in regulating immune responses and maintaining self-tolerance, particularly in the context of pancreatic beta cells.
The diverse and opposing functions of DCs within islets in type 1 diabetes remain incompletely understood.
Characterizing islet-resident DC subsets is essential for deciphering their roles in immune homeostasis and disease pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the distinct phenotypes and functions of dendritic cell subsets residing in pancreatic islets.
To investigate the roles of these DC subsets under both homeostatic and inflammatory conditions relevant to type 1 diabetes.
To determine the contribution of specific DC subsets to islet immunity and autoimmune diabetes.

Main Methods:

Flow cytometry and cell surface marker analysis (CD11b, CD103, CX3CR1) to identify and quantify islet DC subsets.
Tracing of DC lineage using markers for pre-DC and monocyte origins (fms-like tyrosine kinase 3).
Assessment of DC migratory capacity, phagocytic activity, and antigen presentation capabilities in vitro and in vivo.

Main Results:

Two major homeostatic islet DC subsets were identified: CD103(+) DCs (fms-like tyrosine kinase 3-dependent) and CD11b(+) DCs (monocyte-derived).
CD103(+) DCs are the primary migratory subset, cross-presenting islet antigens in lymph nodes but have limited phagocytosis.
CD11b(+) DCs, the predominant subset, exhibit higher phagocytosis but poor migration and antigen presentation, and increase during insulitis, suggesting a role in diabetes pathogenesis.

Conclusions:

Islet DCs comprise distinct subsets with specialized functions, influencing tolerance and immunity.
CD103(+) DCs are key for initiating adaptive immune responses via antigen presentation.
CD11b(+) DCs may play a significant role in the inflammatory processes driving type 1 diabetes development.