Human islet consists mainly of insulin producing beta cells and glucagon producing alpha cells responsible for the fine-tune regulation of our glucose level in our body. The laboratory aims to improve the care for diabetic patients and has a clear and strong focus of clinical translation based on experimental research.
Along the experimental research line, the group has contributed to several studies showing that human islets can be protected from a diabetic micro-environmental stress such as inflammation and hyperglycaemia. We actively participate in European networks of leading islet laboratories that investigate and improve the methodology for the isolation process of islets from donor pancreas as documented by a series of publications. We are continuing to develop innovative approaches using 3D bioprinting technology for delivery of pancreatic islets with supporting cells that will allow us to define alternative graft sites. These studies form a basis for optimizing the design of an OoC platform for ex vivo islet survival and long-term functionality.
In the past year, the laboratory has started in collaboration with prof. Helge Ræder and Assoc. prof. Simona Chera at University of Bergen to deploy iPS technology for in vitro differentiation of human stem cells towards mature beta cells. The Scholz lab. is advancing this research further in the newly UiO:Life Science funded project «Artificial Biomimetic systems – the Niche of Islet Organoids (ABINO)» that joins researchers from three Centres of Excellence (CoE) (RITMO, HTH, CCSE).
Selected Publications
- Abadpour S, Halvorsen B, Sahraoui A, Korsgren O, Aukrust P, Scholz H (2018) Interleukin-22 reverses human islet dysfunction and apoptosis triggered by hyperglycemia and LIGHT J Mol Endocrinol (in press) PubMed 29330151
- Schuetz C, Anazawa T, Cross SE, Labriola L, Meier RPH, Redfield RR, Scholz H, Stock PG, Zammit NW, IPITA YIC Young Investigator Committee (2018) β Cell Replacement Therapy: The Next 10 Years Transplantation, 102 (2), 215-229 PubMed 28885496
- Abadpour S, Göpel SO, Schive SW, Korsgren O, Foss A, Scholz H (2017) Glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor protects human islets from nutrient deprivation and endoplasmic reticulum stress induced apoptosis Sci Rep, 7 (1), 1575 PubMed 28484241
- Schive SW, Mirlashari MR, Hasvold G, Wang M, Josefsen D, Gullestad HP, Korsgren O, Foss A, Kvalheim G, Scholz H (2017) Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Respond to Short-Term Hypoxia by Secreting Factors Beneficial for Human Islets In Vitro and Potentiate Antidiabetic Effect In Vivo Cell Med, 9 (3), 103-116 PubMed 28713640
- Vethe H, Bjørlykke Y, Ghila LM, Paulo JA, Scholz H, Gygi SP, Chera S, Ræder H (2017) Probing the missing mature β-cell proteomic landscape in differentiating patient iPSC-derived cells Sci Rep, 7 (1), 4780 PubMed 28684784
