Research on Islet Cell Biology
A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2026 | Viewed by 23
Special Issue Editor
2. VCU Hume-Lee Islet Cell Transplant Lab, VCU Health System, Richmond, VA, USA
Interests: islet transplantation; extracellular vesicles; islet cells; pancreatic diseases; pancreatitis; inflammation; diabetes; immunity; beta cell; hypoxia
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
A unifying barrier across diabetes pathogenesis and islet transplantation is the persistent exposure of β-cells to inflammatory and hypoxic stress. In both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, chronic low-grade inflammation—marked by immune cell infiltration and sustained cytokine signaling—converges with intra-islet hypoxia to drive β-cell dysfunction, dedifferentiation, and apoptosis. These same stressors reappear after transplantation: newly implanted islets face an avascular, immune-reactive microenvironment that recreates the inflammatory–hypoxic cycle responsible for early graft loss.
Accurately assessing the functional resilience of these stressed islets remains critical. Ex vivo assays such as glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, oxygen consumption rate, and dynamic perifusion, along with in vivo metabolic testing and advanced imaging, are increasingly used to predict graft competency and guide therapeutic development.
A growing area of focus involves extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by β-cells under inflammatory and hypoxic burden. These vesicles carry stress-specific microRNAs, proteins, and metabolic signatures, positioning them as promising non-invasive biomarkers capable of reporting the real-time health of islets or stem-cell–derived β-cells.
To counter the dual pressures of immune attack and insufficient oxygenation, next-generation encapsulation technologies—including conformal coatings, macrodevices, nanofiber-reinforced hydrogels, and 3D-printed scaffolds—are being engineered to create a protective, pro-survival niche. These biomaterial platforms increasingly incorporate immune-evasive chemistries, localized immunomodulation, and design features that enhance vascularization.
Across the field, the central objective remains consistent: to break the cycle of inflammation and hypoxia that undermines both native β-cells and transplanted grafts. By integrating biomarker discovery, functional assessment tools, advanced biomaterials, and the clinical maturation of pluripotent stem cell-derived islets, ongoing efforts continue to move the field closer to a durable, functional cure for diabetes.
Dr. Mazhar Kanak
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cells is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- islet inflammation
- hypoxia in islets
- functional assessment of islets ex vivo and in vivo
- islet stress and EVs as markers of stress
- encapsulation strategies for islet transplantation
- hot topics in islet and SC-beta cell transplantation
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
