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Microscopic Anatomy of the Human Islet of Langerhans

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Islets of Langerhans

Abstract

Human islets of Langerhans are complex microorgans responsible for maintaining glucose homeostasis. Islets contain five different endocrine cell types, which react to changes in plasma nutrient levels with the release of a carefully balanced mixture of islet hormones into the portal vein. Each endocrine cell type is characterized by its own typical secretory granule morphology, different peptide hormone content, and specific endocrine, paracrine, and neuronal interactions. During development, a cascade of transcription factors determines the formation of the endocrine pancreas and its constituting islet cell types. Differences in ontogeny between the ventrally derived head section and the dorsally derived head, body, and tail section are responsible for differences in innervation, blood supply, and endocrine composition. Islet cells show a close topographical relationship to the islet vasculature and are supplied with a five- to tenfold higher blood flow than the exocrine compartment. Islet microanatomy is disturbed in patients with type 1 diabetes, with a marked reduction in β-cell content and the presence of inflammatory infiltrates. Histopathological lesions in type 2 diabetes include a limited reduction in β-cell content and deposition of amyloid in the islet interstitial space.

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Acknowledgments

PV and SS are supported by a grant from the FWO-Vlaanderen (G019211N).

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  1. Department of Pathology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090, Brussels, Belgium

    Peter In’t Veld & Silke Smeets

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  1. Peter In’t Veld
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Correspondence to Peter In’t Veld .

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  1. Department of Clinical Sciences and Education, Sodersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Md. Shahidul Islam

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In’t Veld, P., Smeets, S. (2015). Microscopic Anatomy of the Human Islet of Langerhans. In: Islam, M. (eds) Islets of Langerhans. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6686-0_1

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