In Vitro Disease Models of the Endocrine Pancreas

Abstract

The ethical constraints and shortcomings of animal models, combined with the demand to study disease pathogenesis under controlled conditions, are giving rise to a new field at the interface of tissue engineering and pathophysiology, which focuses on the development of in vitro models of disease. In vitro models are defined as synthetic experimental systems that contain living human cells and mimic tissue- and organ-level physiology in vitro by taking advantage of recent advances in tissue engineering and microfabrication. This review provides an overview of in vitro models and focuses specifically on in vitro disease models of the endocrine pancreas and diabetes. First, we briefly review the anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of the human pancreas, with an emphasis on islets of Langerhans and beta cell dysfunction. We then discuss different types of in vitro models and fundamental elements that should be considered when developing an in vitro disease model. Finally, we review the current state and breakthroughs in the field of pancreatic in vitro models and conclude with some challenges that need to be addressed in the future development of in vitro models.

Development of a novel NiCu nanoparticle-loaded polysaccharide-based hydrogel for 3D printing of customizable dressings with promising cytotoxicity against melanoma cells

“…First, their use conforms to the “3R” (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) guiding principles for more ethical research overcoming the numerous limitations of animal models (e.g., important differences in anatomy and physiology between the animal and human skin). Second, being isolated from human skin sources, their responses to tested materials represent an essential step on the path to in vivo testing [ 38 ]. 3D printing allows precise customization in terms of shape and composition, thus allowing dressing personalization adapted to the shape and complexity of skin lesions or, in this instance, the melanoma's geometric features.…”

LncRNA ARGI Contributes to Virus‐Induced Pancreatic β Cell Inflammation Through Transcriptional Activation of IFN‐Stimulated Genes

“…Primary human islets or purified primary human pancreatic β cells are the gold standard for in vitro diabetes modeling; however, they are difficult to obtain and isolate, limiting their use in in vitro studies, especially when high amounts of cells are needed. [ 62 , 63 ] The use of iPSC‐derived human islet‐like aggregates constitutes a useful and disease‐relevant alternative to human islets to perform in vitro studies in diabetes. [ 64 , 65 , 66 ] However, some genetic manipulations are particularly inefficient in these cells such as plasmid‐mediated protein overexpression and gene silencing of very low expressed gene targets, as is the case for lncRNAs.…”

Overview of Transcriptomic Research on Type 2 Diabetes: Challenges and Perspectives

“…Some of them, i.e., primary cell lines, are more representative but have a limited proliferative potential and are difficult to obtain. Transformed cell lines and stem cells, in contrast, have a longer lifespan but are less representative of the selected tissue [ 144 ]. Scientists are still searching for the ideal in vitro model of the pancreas for gene expression research.…”