Abstract

Using Islet Spheroids to Model Beta Cell Targeted Interventions in Type 1 Diabetes

Matthias von Herrath, Vice President and Senior Medical Officer, NovoNordisk; Professor La Jolla Institute, NovoNordisk

After investigating the human pathology of type 1 diabetes through organ donor pancreata (nPOD) it has become clear that beta cells become more recognizable by the immune system and that these beta cell Intrinsic events substantially contribute to their destruction. As immune reactivity to beta cells is even present to a low degree in healthy individuals, this ‘unmasking’ of the beta cell appears critical for T1D to develop. Upregulation of MHC is one of the key pathogenetic events. Thus, interventions should not only target the immune system, but should also be geared towards beta cells health and their recognizability. Here we have built, in collaboration with InSphero (Zurich, CH) a human islet spheroid immune attack model that replicates key events of human islet recognition and allows for the testing of drugs that can preserve beta cell function.