OBJECTIVE To establish a method for isolation and culture of subcutaneous microvascular
endothelial cells (MVEC) from small human tissue biopsies to compare gene and protein …

This review describes formation of the islet basement membrane and the function of
extracellular matrix (ECM) components in β-cell proliferation and survival. Implications for …

In recent years a variety of techniques have been developed for studying peripheral
microvascular function in man, which have provided important information regarding the …

β-Cells rely on the islet microenvironment for their functionality and mass. Pericytes, along
with endothelial cells, make up the dense islet capillary network. However, although the role …

With the inception of the Edmonton Protocol, intraportal islet transplantation (IPIT) has re-
emerged as a promising cell-based therapy for type 1 diabetes. However, current clinical …

Pancreatic islet β cells are organized in rosette-like structures around blood vessels and
exhibit an artery-to-vein orientation, but they do not display the typical epithelial polarity. It is …

Pericytes (PC) are microvascular mural cells that make specific cell-to-cell contacts with the
endothelial cells (EC). These cells are obligatory constituents of the microvessels including …

In IDDM, mononuclear cells accumulate in the islets of Langerhans and destroy insulin-
producing β-cells. To study the mechanisms that control extravasation of circulating …

The isolation of islets by collagenase digestion can cause damage and impact the efficiency
of islet engraftment and function. In this study, we assessed the basement membranes (BMs) …

Endothelium, acting as a barrier, protects tissues against factors that provoke insulin
resistance and type 2 diabetes and itself responds to the insult of insulin resistance inducers …