Important advances in the transplantation of islets of Langerhans have recently been achieved using alginate-based microcapsules (De Vos 2006). These microcapsules safely protect the transplanted cells from graft rejection in the absence of long-term immunosuppression. Recent progress has allowed us to effectively eliminate the development of fibrosis surrounding the implanted microcapsules (De...

The pancreas is a dual-function organ featuring both endocrine and exocrine tissue. Endocrine functionality is provided by approximately one million cell clusters called the islets of Langerhans. Islets consist of four main cell types, 1) ┙ cells: secrete glucagon (increases glucose in blood); ┚ cells: secrete insulin (decreases glucose in blood); ├ cells: secrete somatostatin (regulates ┙ and ...

Insulinoma is a rare neuroendocrine tumour arising from beta cells of pancreatic islets Langerhans. We report case insulinoma presented with vague manifestations, which were undiagnosed for 2 years. The diagnostic evaluation revealed endogenous hyperinsulinism and imaging showed head lesion she underwent the surgery. Due to persisting symptoms, Calcium arterial stimulation hepatic venous sampli...

Islets of Langerhans are micro-organs scattered throughout the pancreas that contain insulin-producing cells, called beta-cells. Although new light has been recently shed on beta-cell development, information on the phenotype and location of beta-stem cells remains scarce. Here, we provide evidence that beta-stem cells are slow-cycling cells located within and around the islets of Langerhans. F...