Rapid, high efficiency isolation of pancreatic -cells

The ability to isolate pure pancreatic -cells would greatly aid multiple areas of diabetes research. We developed an exendin-4-like neopeptide conjugate for the rapid purification and isolation of functional pancreatic -cells. By targeting the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor, -cells were isolated within an hour and were >99% pure. These studies were confirmed by immunostaining, confocal microscopy and microarray analysis on isolated cells. Gene expression profiling studies of the cytofluorometrically sorted -cells provided new insights into the genetic programs at play of different ages and stages during type-1 diabetes development. The described isolation method should have broad applicability to the -cell field.

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Clardy SM, Mohan JF, Vinegoni C, Keliher EJ, Iwamoto Y, Benoist C, Mathis D, Weissleder R