Vascularizing stem cell-derived islets: A blueprint for functional maturation
Yan Xiong1, Per-Olof Berggren2
1The Rolf Luft Research Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Developmental Cell
|September 23, 2025
Abstract:
In this issue of Developmental Cell, Jun, Nguyen-Ngoc et al. report that embedding human pluripotent stem cell-derived islets with endothelial cells and fibroblasts, which form perfusable microvessels, accelerates β cell functional maturation. Endothelial cell-derived extracellular matrix proteins and BMP2/4 enhance the β cell Ca2⁺ response, insulin secretion, and in vivo graft performance.


