Stem cell reporter line created to allow live monitoring of pancreatic differentiation

People with diabetes have difficulties regulating their blood glucose levels due to changes in insulin sensitivity or the loss of insulin-producing cells located in the pancreatic islets. These Islets are composed of several endocrine cell types which secrete hormones to regulate blood glucose levels. The two main hormones regulating blood glucose are insulin and glucagon, secreted from pancreatic beta cells and alpha cells, respectively. Studying these cells is important for understanding diabetes and advancing therapies. Islets derived from stem cells can be used as a model to study diabetes as well as a potential cell therapy.

This ISLET funded- supported study produced a reporter line of stem cells that allows live monitoring of stem cell-derived pancreatic alpha and beta cells throughout cellular differentiation.

Original Research Paper

Setyono ESA, Rogers NK, Hofmann A, Lickert H, Burtscher I (2025 ) Generation of ARX-T2A-H2B-CFP x C-PEP-mCherry-hiPSC double reporter line for monitoring of pancreatic differentiation. Stem Cell Res. 2025 Apr;84:103685. doi: 10.1016/j.scr.2025.103685.