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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Investigating The Differentiation And Functional Maturation Of Stem Cell-Derived Β Cells, Leonardo Velazco-Cruz
Investigating The Differentiation And Functional Maturation Of Stem Cell-Derived Β Cells, Leonardo Velazco-Cruz
Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic and global disease rapidly growing in prevalence. Diabetes can be characterized by the dysfunction or death of the glucose sensing insulin secreting cell. cells are located within the islet of Langerhans (islet), a tissue within the pancreas. Human islets are critical for the study and treatment of diabetes. However, they can only be obtained from cadaveric organ donors. These cadaveric islets do not proliferate and can only be maintained in vitro for short periods of time, making their availability rare and fleeting. Stem cell-derived -like cells can be generated in indefinite amounts and …
Autologous Stem Cell-Derived Β Cells For Diabetes Cell Replacement Therapy, Kristina G. Maxwell
Autologous Stem Cell-Derived Β Cells For Diabetes Cell Replacement Therapy, Kristina G. Maxwell
McKelvey School of Engineering Theses & Dissertations
Autologous stem cell therapy is a promising treatment for patients with diabetes worldwide. Previous stem cell-derived β (SC-β) cell protocols were unable to efficiently differentiate multiple patient induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into stem cell-derived islets (SC-islets), containing insulin-secreting SC-β cells. Recent updates targeting the actin cytoskeleton have enabled the differentiation of 14 diabetic and nondiabetic stem cell lines into SC-islets. We used genetic engineering, specifically CRISPR/Cas9, to correct the diabetes-causing mutation in stem cells from patients with Wolfram Syndrome. The genetically engineered SC-β cells functioned and had a composition similar to nondiabetic SC-β cells, unlike the unedited SC-β cells …
Characterization And Function Of Islet Antigen Presenting Cells During Nod Diabetes, Stephen Thomas Ferris
Characterization And Function Of Islet Antigen Presenting Cells During Nod Diabetes, Stephen Thomas Ferris
Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Here we characterized the initial antigen presenting cells (APCs) within the islet of Langerhans to ascertain their identity and functional role as it pertains to autoimmune diabetes. The activation of the adaptive immune system is induced by the innate immune system, and more specifically APCs. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the APCs that are initiating T1D in order to elucidate the break in tolerance and intervene in order to inhibit progression. We have found that there is a resident macrophage that is present in all strains of mice. This islet macrophage has a distinct transcriptional profile that is unique …