Yasaman Aghazadeh, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Director of Regenera8ve Medicine for Diabetes Research Unit Ins8tut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) Aghazadeh laboratory will be launched in May 2023 and will focus on the study of the islet vasculature in beta cell gain of function or dysfunction.
Recapitulating the vascular niche to improve beta cell replacement therapies for T1D
Yasaman Aghazadeh1, Frankie FP Poon Dr.2,5, Farida FS Sarangi2, Safwat SK Khan5, Tiger TJ Jian3,5, Brian BC Cox Dr.5, Jeff JW Wrana Dr. 3, Laurance LP Pelletier Dr. 3, Cristina CN Nostro Dr.2, Sara SN Nunes Dr.4, Liliana LA Attisano Dr. 1.
1Donnelly Center for Biomedical Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; 2McEwen Stem Cell Institute , University Health Network , Toronto, ON, Canada; 3Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; 4Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; 5University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Autoimmune destruction of beta cell mass is the main cause of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Cell replacement therapies by infusion of donor islets into the portal vein or transplantation of encapsulated stem cell-derived pancreatic progenitors/endoderm cells (SC-PP/PEC) can lead to endogenous insulin production. However, the transplant outcome in both cases is challenged by the lack of connection to the host’s vasculature to support cell survival and glucose sensing/insulin secretion. To overcome this issue, we isolated microvascular fragments (MVs) from adipose tissue while preserving endothelial lumen and perivascular cell coverage. Co-transplantation of MVs with SC-PP or human islets significantly improved pancreatic cell survival post-transplantation, and graft function. Interestingly, in the presence of MVs, SC-PP-derived beta cells expressed maturation marker MAFA. Therefore, we aim to investigate the developmental role of the vasculature in beta cell development, maturation and gain of function
The Islet Product, Planning for Trials, and Manufacturing
