Publicaties
Suppression of epithelial to mesenchymal transitioning (EMT) enhances ex vivo reprogramming of human exocrine pancreatic tissue towards functional insulin producing β-like cells Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Establishment, characterization and long-term culture of human endocrine pancreas-derived microvascular endothelial cells Vrije Universiteit Brussel
BACKGROUND: In vitro primary cultures of microvascular endothelial cells from endocrine pancreas are difficult to obtain, but can be a very helpful tool for studies of islet biology, transplantation and regenerative medicine.
METHODS: We applied a protocol recently described for the isolation and culture of brain microvascular endothelial cells (EC) on human pancreatic islets. EC obtained were characterized in terms of morphological ...
Isolation, characterization and potential role in beta cell-endothelium cross-talk of extracellular vesicles released from human pancreatic islets Vrije Universiteit Brussel
The cross-talk between beta cells and endothelium plays a key role in islet physiopathology and in the revascularization process after islet transplantation. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in this cross-talk are not fully elucidated. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted membrane nanoparticles involved in inter-cellular communication through the transfer of proteins and nucleic acids. The aims of this study were: 1) isolation ...
Generation of Functional Beta-Like Cells from Human Exocrine Pancreas Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Transcription factor mediated lineage reprogramming of human pancreatic exocrine tissue could conceivably provide an unlimited supply of islets for transplantation in the treatment of diabetes. Exocrine tissue can be efficiently reprogrammed to islet-like cells using a cocktail of transcription factors: Pdx1, Ngn3, MafA and Pax4 in combination with growth factors. We show here that overexpression of exogenous Pax4 in combination with ...
Concise Review: markers for assessing human stem cell-derived implants as β-cell replacement in type 1 diabetes Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Immunogenicity of human embryonic stem cell-derived beta cells Vrije Universiteit Brussel
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: To overcome the donor shortage in the treatment of advanced type 1 diabetes by islet transplantation, human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) show great potential as an unlimited alternative source of beta cells. hESCs may have immune privileged properties and it is important to determine whether these properties are preserved in hESC-derived cells.
METHODS: We comprehensively investigated interactions of both innate and ...
A nanobody-based tracer targeting DPP6 for non-invasive imaging of human pancreatic endocrine cells Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Reprogramming of human pancreatic exocrine cells to β-like cells Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Rodent acinar cells exhibit a remarkable plasticity as they can transdifferentiate to duct-, hepatocyte- and islet β-like cells. We evaluated whether exocrine cells from adult human pancreas can similarly respond to proendocrine stimuli. Exocrine cells from adult human pancreas were transduced directly with lentiviruses expressing activated MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) and STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) ...
Clinical Immunosuppressants Inhibit Inflammatory, Proliferative, and Reprogramming Potential, But Not Angiogenesis of Human Pancreatic Duct Cells Vrije Universiteit Brussel KU Leuven
The presence of pancreatic duct cells in clinical islet grafts may affect long-term metabolic success. Human pancreatic duct cells express factors that may exert both protective and damaging effects on islet cells in the graft. Here we studied the potential of commonly used immunosuppressive drugs in islet transplantation-sirolimus, tacrolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)-to influence the inflammatory and angiogenic capacity of human ...