Obstacles on the way to the clinical visualisation of beta cells: looking for the Aeneas of molecular imaging to navigate between Scylla and Charybdis
Year: 2012
Type: review
Abstract: For more than a decade, researchers have been trying to develop non-invasive imaging techniques for the in vivo measurement of viable pancreatic beta cells. However, in spite of intense research efforts, only one tracer for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging is currently under clinical evaluation. To many diabetologists it may remain unclear why the imaging world struggles to develop an effective method for non-invasive beta cell imaging (BCI), which could be useful for both research and clinical purposes. Here, we provide a concise overview of the obstacles and challenges encountered on the way to such BCI, in both native and transplanted islets. We discuss the major difficulties posed by the anatomical and cell biological features of pancreatic islets, as well as the chemical and physical limits of the main imaging modalities, with special focus on PET, SPECT and MRI. We conclude by indicating new avenues for future research in the field, based on several remarkable recent results.
Source: Diabetologia
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,490
Awards: G1815757601, Control of endocrine pancreatic function: dissecting the connexindependent pathway, G2267949622, G257493488, G3207284457, G3314571653, European Network for Cell Imaging and Tracking Expertise, Non invasive in vivo imaging of pancreatic beta cells : developing and testing innovative ligands and MRI contrast agents, G5371173130, G5449112354, G5647513583, G7319717687, Cellular mechanisms involved in the secretory function of renin- and insulin- producing cells, G7931216007, G7943099457, G8394228809, Use of innovative strategies for beta-cell imaging in diabetes mellitus
OpenAlex ID: W1972754288