Islet Biology During COVID-19: Progress and Perspectives

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Cell Biology
• Virology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic impacted research productivity, yet islet biology saw over 2,500 publications since 2020.
• Research explored roles of key enzymes and hormones in insulin secretion, alongside novel signaling pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review novel functional insights, technologies, and therapeutic approaches in pancreatic islet research from March 2020 to July 2021.
• To examine the direct effects of SARS-CoV-2 on pancreatic islets, particularly in relation to diabetes and obesity.

Main Methods:

• Review of peer-reviewed articles published between March 2020 and July 2021.
• Analysis of advancements in in vivo and in vitro models, including transgenic mice, pancreas-on-a-chip, and genetic editing.
• Evaluation of stem-cell-derived islet-like cells and their function post-transplantation.

Main Results:

• Identified new roles for isocitrate dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase, and incretin hormones in insulin secretion.
• Reported discovery of inceptor and circulating RNA signaling.
• Highlighted advancements in beta-cell proliferation assessment, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion modeling, and islet cell genetic editing.
• Demonstrated the importance of cell maturation for stem-cell-derived islet transplantation.
• Investigated direct impact of SARS-CoV-2 on pancreatic islets.

Conclusions:

• Pancreatic islet research has rapidly advanced despite pandemic challenges, yielding new knowledge on insulin secretion and islet function.
• Novel technologies and therapeutic strategies are emerging for islet biology and diabetes research.
• Understanding SARS-CoV-2's effect on islets is crucial, especially for vulnerable populations.