Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 31, 2026
Near Infrared Optical Projection Tomography for Assessments of β-cell Mass Distribution in Diabetes Research
Published on: January 12, 2013
Non-invasive imaging of the endocrine pancreas (review)
1Laboratory of Experimental Hormonology, Brussels Free University, B-1070 Brussels, Belgium. malaisse@ulb.ac.be
Insights
D-mannoheptulose shows promise for non-invasively imaging insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This method utilizes its specific uptake and retention, enabling quantification of pancreatic islet cells for research.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Medical Imaging
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Non-invasive imaging of the endocrine pancreas is a research priority.
- Accurate labeling of insulin-producing cells is challenging due to their small proportion (1%) within the pancreas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the potential of D-mannoheptulose for non-invasive quantification of insulin-producing cells.
- To explore D-mannoheptulose as a tool for endocrine pancreas imaging.
Main Methods:
- Investigated D-mannoheptulose uptake via GLUT2 into hepatocytes and insulin-producing cells.
- Observed intracellular accumulation of phosphorylated D-mannoheptulose metabolites.
- Utilized tritiated D-mannoheptulose for quantifying insulin-producing cells in isolated rat pancreata and islets.
- Proposed 7-deoxy-7-iodo-D-mannoheptulose for in vivo imaging based on related compound studies.
Main Results:
- D-mannoheptulose is selectively transported into target cells.
- Phosphorylated metabolites accumulate intracellularly, allowing for delayed imaging.
- Tritiated D-mannoheptulose enabled quantification of insulin-producing cell mass.
- Preferential labeling of hepatocytes and transplanted insulin-producing cells was achieved in vivo.
Conclusions:
- D-mannoheptulose is a viable candidate for non-invasive endocrine pancreas imaging.
- Its specific uptake and metabolite retention facilitate accurate cell quantification.
- Further development, such as with 7-deoxy-7-iodo-D-mannoheptulose, could advance in vivo imaging capabilities.
Abstract:
The non-invasive imaging of the endocrine pancreas is currently considered by concerned institutions as a priority theme of research. Because the endocrine pancreas represents only about one percent of the pancreatic gland, highly specific tools are required for labelling the insulin-producing cells. The present review deals with the possible use of D-mannoheptulose for the non-invasive quantification of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This heptose is transported into hepatocytes and insulin-producing cells, but not other cell types, at the intervention of GLUT2. Its uptake coincides with the intracellular accumulation of acidic metabolites generated by phosphorylation of D-mannoheptulose. These metabolites remain in the islet cells after prolonged washing, suggesting that imaging of the pancreas at a relatively late time after intravenous administration of D-mannoheptulose could avoid significant extracellular contamination. Using tritiated D-mannoheptulose as tracer, a new method was designed for quantification of the total mass of insulin-producing cells in either isolated perfused rat pancreata or isolated pancreatic islets. Likewise, a preferential labelling of hepatocytes and insulin-producing transplanted cells can be achieved in vivo after administration of tritiated D-mannoheptulose. In the light of results obtained with 6-deoxy-6-iodo-D-glucose, it is proposed that 7-deoxy-7-iodo-D-mannoheptulose could be used for the non-invasive imaging of the endocrine pancreas.
