Project Details
Description
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) results from autoimmune β-cell destruction.
Current insulin therapy controls glycemia but does not address β-cell dysfunction. While donor islet transplantation shows promise, it is limited by donor shortages. Stem cellderived β-cells (SC-β) offer a potential solution but require further in vivo maturation for full functionality. This maturation involves a metabolic shift from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation. Our recent work identified TFRC (transferrin receptor) as a β-cell-specific marker that mediates iron uptake, which is crucial for ATP generation and cellular respiration. β-cells exhibit high TFRC expression, and iron plays a unique role in β-cell function and survival.
Current insulin therapy controls glycemia but does not address β-cell dysfunction. While donor islet transplantation shows promise, it is limited by donor shortages. Stem cellderived β-cells (SC-β) offer a potential solution but require further in vivo maturation for full functionality. This maturation involves a metabolic shift from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation. Our recent work identified TFRC (transferrin receptor) as a β-cell-specific marker that mediates iron uptake, which is crucial for ATP generation and cellular respiration. β-cells exhibit high TFRC expression, and iron plays a unique role in β-cell function and survival.
| Acronym | AIIFUND150 |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Effective start/end date | 1/04/25 → 31/03/26 |
Keywords
- iron
- pancreatic beta cells
Flemish discipline codes in use since 2023
- Other clinical sciences not elsewhere classified