What is it about?
This study reveals that human pancreatic microcysts are linked to duct-β-cell clusters. Using cutting-edge 3D and super-resolution imaging, Lee et al. (Diabetes, 2025) identified β-cells within the epithelium and characterized their vesicles with polarized organization alongside duct cells, providing new insights into pancreatic remodeling during cystic changes.
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Why is it important?
The detection of duct-β-cell clusters using 3D super-resolution imaging provides valuable insights into β-cell organization within remodeled pancreatic lobular and ductal environments. These clusters may represent an unrecognized microenvironment where β-cell regeneration could occur, offering clues about pancreatic adaptation to benign microcystic changes. By addressing key gaps in our understanding of pancreatic remodeling, this study opens new avenues for exploring endogenous β-cell regeneration and its potential role in advancing diabetes therapies.
Perspectives
This study provides a foundation for understanding how pancreatic microenvironments contribute to local β-cell organization and remodeling. By utilizing advanced 3D and super-resolution imaging methods, it enables detailed analysis of ductal structures and duct-β-cell interactions inside the human pancreatic lobules, which otherwise cannot be evaluated in experimental conditions. Future research could explore how these findings translate to β-cell regeneration and their implications for diabetes treatments. Additionally, this work underscores the importance of studying human pancreatic tissue to uncover mechanisms unique to humans, bridging gaps in our knowledge and advancing regenerative medicine.
Shiue-Cheng (Tony) Tang
National Tsing Hua University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: 3D Imaging Resolves Human Pancreatic Duct-β-Cell Clusters During Cystic Change, Diabetes, January 2025, American Diabetes Association,
DOI: 10.2337/db24-0824.
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Resources
Home of solid-state tissue clearing and antifade fluorescence imaging
3D Histology Lab focuses on advancing optical and histological methodologies for 3D characterization of tissue microarchitecture, vasculature, and innervation. By applying optical clearing methods, we render tissues—such as mouse and human intestine, pancreas, liver, and kidney—transparent, enabling detailed 3D visualization of fluorescently labeled structures. A key aspect of our research is integrating modern 3D histology (fluorescence and transmitted light imaging) with classic techniques, such as H&E and IHC staining, to enable multiplexed analysis of tissues in both health and disease. ================================== New in 2023: Antifade technology for 3D & super-resolution imaging in high-n polymer ================================== Our team recently developed a novel antifade method for 3D and super-resolution imaging, compatible with 3D Airyscan, STED, Lattice SIM, and NSPARC. This method uses solid high-refractive-index (high-n) polymers as an alternative to conventional immersion-based tissue clearing techniques. Rather than using high-n liquids, we embed fluorescently labeled tissues in a solid, acrylamide-based high-n polymer through photo-polymerization. Much like tissue solidification with paraffin for H&E histology or resin for electron microscopy, this solvent-free environment is optimized for clinical tissue analysis. By limiting oxygen diffusion into the specimen, it significantly reduces photobleaching and minimizes signal loss during imaging, while providing extended shelf life for long-term storage, transport, and repeated fluorescence imaging. ================================== Keywords: 3D histology; human pancreas early change/lesion; human pancreas & liver 3D neurohistology; high-n polymer, solid-state tissue clearing; antifade 3D & super-resolution imaging; 1080p HD video; 3D Airyscan; STED; Lattice SIM; NSPARC; 3D super-resolution islet imaging ==================================
Panoramic-to-3D/super-resolution imaging in antifade polymer (Solid-SuperR® videos)
The high-n polymer Solid-SuperR® facilitates photon penetration in 3D microscopy while the solvent-free condition minimizes photobleaching caused by oxygen-fluorophore contacts and reactions. Because of the unique stability, the Solid-SuperR® slide is recommended for demonstration of 3D high/super-resolution imaging in the microscope center or imaging core. It can also serve as a teaching tool or positive control for routine confocal or fluorescence microscopy.
Resolve the Details Hiding in the Depth Using Solid-State Tissue Clearing
High-Quality Sectioning and Super-Resolution in Thick Samples ==================================================== The Lattice SIM illumination pattern exhibits both higher contrast and deeper sample penetration as compared to classical SIM. Achieve super-resolution images along with high-quality sectioning even in thick or scattering samples. ==================================================== A novel clearing and embedding technology developed by Prof. Tang and his team (Hsiao et al., Nature Communications 2023) combined with the robust Lattice SIM illumination pattern and excellent image reconstruction technology enabled imaging throughout an entire mouse intestine section of ~200 µm thickness. Networks of blood vessels and nerves can be visualized with finest details even at this depth. ==================================================== https://www.zeiss.com/microscopy/en/products/light-microscopes/super-resolution-microscopes/lattice-sim-5.html
Precision Imaging in Complex Tissue Structures
Integration of tissue clearing & antifade fluorescence imaging with Nikon AX/AXR (featuring NSPARC Confocal-based Super Resolution Microscope)
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@3dHistology; tweets; images; videos about our development of antifade 3D super-resolution imaging
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