The exact cause of either type 1 or type 2 diabetes still remains unknown. Inflammation of the insulin-producing islets of Langerhans seems to be one of the common denominators during the early stage of both diseases. InSight Technology is a promising analytical tool for studying the inflammation processes. The review is published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism in September 2013.
Chronic exposure to high levels of blood sugar is a primary cause for the many complications of the two types of diabetes. Even though it is still not fully understood, which factors contribute to development of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, some common denominators have been identified.
One of the factors is the presence of slowly progressing inflammation in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. It contributes to the loss of function and subsequently death of insulin-producing beta-cells inside the islets. Two of the previously reported reasons for inflammation are:
- Increased infiltration of immune cells, which leads to high concentrations of signalling substances cytokines and chemokines. Inside the beta-cells, these substances induce STAT1 and NF-kB signalling pathways involved in among others cell survival and cell death, apoptosis;
- High levels of blood serum factor apolipoprotein CIII (apoCIII), which contributes to chronically increased calcium ions concentrations inside the beta-cells. This in turn leads to beta-cell dysfunction and subsequent death.
InSight Technology provides an excellent tool to study the inflammatory processes non-invasively, longitudinally and with single-cell resolution. The immune privileged status of the anterior chamber of the eye is compromised when pancreatic islets are implanted for examination. Thus, the immune cells have a possibility to infiltrate the islets in the eye and the inflammation processes can be studied over time.
The review article is published in the Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism in September 2013.