From Function to Single Cells: Analytical Innovations in Islet Biology and Diabetes Research

Islets of Langerhans are the endocrine portion of the pancreas, which release different peptide hormones to control blood glucose. Release of these hormones is perturbed in a number of metabolic diseases, highlighting the necessity for understanding the biology of this tissue. Several notable analytical approaches have been developed to study islets and their secreted hormones, including the Nobel Prize-winning discovery of insulin, the determination of its amino acid sequence, and the development of the radioimmunoassay. Advances in islet research are propelled by progress in analytical methodologies; new tools and technologies are continually being refined by emerging biological insights, creating an ideal environment for discovery. In this article, we provide a critical review of analytical advances in the analysis of islets of Langerhans over the past 5 years. Topics include advances in functional testing, proteomics, metabolomics, mass spectrometry imaging, single-cell -omics, and multimodal detection.