This book is a unique and thoughtful blend of critical background information and advances made in a multitude of areas of contemporary islet research. It is an essential reference book, the first of its kind in many years, for professionals as well as for the beginners interested in the study of islet physiology and diabetes. The book is unique in its breadth: it deals with anatomy, histology, ultra-structure, evolution and comparative anatomy, imaging, developmental biology, programming, apoptosis, mitochondrial function, metabolism, cellular signaling, electrophysiology, oscillation of hormone secretion, islets of model animals, immunology, proteomics, regenerative medicine, clinical advances, islet transplantation, and finally islet tumors. Individual chapters contributed by over a hundred experts and enthusiasts, not only provide a balanced view of the recent advances made in the respective fields, but also provide directions and thoughts for future research. Thanks to vivid and colorful illustrations, tables and sketches, the book as a whole, and the individual chapters make reading a pleasant experience. It is a valuable compilation that one would love to possess personally and buy as a present to a colleague.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1 : Microscopic anatomy of the human islet of Langerhans – Peter In’t Veld and Miriam Marichal
CHAPTER 2 : The comparative anatomy of islets – Scott Heller
CHAPTER 3: Approaches for imaging of islets: recent advances and future prospects – Ulf Ahlgren and Martin Gotthardt
CHAPTER 4: Islet-cell Development – Anabel Rojas, Adrian Khoo, Juan R. Tejedo, Francisco J. Bedoya, Bernat Soria and Franz Martín
CHAPTER 5: High fat programming of b-cell failure – Marlon. E. Cerf
CHAPTER 6: Nutrient regulation of insulin secretion and b-cell functional integrity – Philip Newsholme, Celine Gaudel, and Neville H McClenaghan
CHAPTER 7: Electrophysiology of islet cells – Gisela Drews, Peter Krippeit-Drews and Martina Düfer
CHAPTER 8: ATP sensitive potassium channels in health and disease – Rebecca Clark and Peter Proks
CHAPTER 9: Role of mitochondria in b-cell function and dysfunction – Pierre Maechler, Ning Li, Marina Casimir, Laurène Vetterli, Francesca Frigerio, Thierry Brun
CHAPTER 10: Basement membrane in pancreatic islet function – Martin Kragl and Eckhard Lammert
CHAPTER 11: Calcium signaling in the islets – Md. Shahidul Islam
CHAPTER 12: Electrical bursting, calcium oscillations, and synchronization of pancreatic islets – Richard Bertram, Arthur Sherman, and Leslie S. Satin
CHAPTER 13: Cyclic AMP signaling in pancreatic islets – Brian Furman, Wee Kiat Ong, and Nigel Pyne
CHAPTER 14: Exocytosis in islet b-cells – Haruo Kasai, Hiroyasu Hatakeyama, Mitsuyo Ohno and Noriko Takahashi
CHAPTER 15: The novel roles of glucagon-like peptide-1, angiotensin II, and vitamin D in islet function – Po Sing Leung
CHAPTER 16: Proteomics and islets research – Meftun Ahmed
CHAPTER 17: Wnt signaling in pancreatic islets – Zhengyu Liu and Joel F. Habener 
CHAPTER 18: Molecular pathways underlying the pathogenesis of pancreatic α-cell dysfunction – Dan Kawamori, Hannah J. Welters, and Rohit N. Kulkarni
CHAPTER 19: Mechanisms of pancreatic b-cell apoptosis in diabetes and its therapies – James D. Johnson, Dan S. Luciani 
CHAPTER 20: b-cell function in obese-hyperglycaemic mice [ob/ob mice] – Per Lindström 
CHAPTER 21: Islet structure and function in the GK rat – B. Portha, G. Lacraz, A. Chavey, F. Figeac, M. Fradet, C. Tourrel-Cuzin, F. Homo-Delarche, M-H. Giroix, D. Bailbé, MN. Gangnerau, J. Movassat
CHAPTER 22: The b-cell in human type 2 diabetes – Piero Marchetti, Roberto Lupi, Silvia Del Guerra, Marco Bugliani, Lorella Marselli and Ugo Boggi 
CHAPTER 23: Clinical approaches to preserve b-cell function in diabetes – Bernardo L. Wajchenberg
CHAPTER 24: Immunology of b-cell destruction – Daria La Torre, and Åke Lenmark 
CHAPTER 25: Toll-like receptors and type 1 diabetes – Danny Zipris 
CHAPTER 26: Prevention of b-cell destruction in autoimmune diabetes: current approaches and future prospects – Saikiran K Sedimbi and Carani B Sanjeevi
CHAPTER 27: In vivo regeneration of insulin-producing b-cell – Hee-Sook Jun
CHAPTER 28: Customized cell-based treatment options to combat autoimmunity and restore b-cell function in Type I diabetes mellitus: current protocols and future perspectives – Fred Fändrich and Hendrik Ungefroren
CHAPTER 29: The progammable cell of monocytic origin (PCMO): A potential adult stem/progenitor cell source for the generation of islet cells – Hendrik Ungefroren and Fred Fändrich
CHAPTER 30: Islet isolation for clinical transplantation – Tatsuya Kin
CHAPTER 31: Human islet autotransplantation: the trail thus far and the highway ahead – Martin Hermann, Raimund Margreiter and Paul Hengster
CHAPTER 32: Modulation of early inflammatory reactions  to promote engraftment and function of transplanted pancreatic islets in autoimmune diabetes – Lorenzo Piemonti, Luca G. Guidotti, Manuela Battaglia
CHAPTER 33: Successes and disappointments with clinical islet transplantation – Paolo Cravedi, Piero Ruggenenti and Giuseppe Remuzzi
CHAPTER 34: Islet tumors – Sara Ekeblad

PRE-PUBLICATION QUOTES:

“One will find updated information on almost every essential aspect of
islet research in this book including emerging new views on the
ultrastructure of rodent and human islets; the fundamentals of
nutrient-sensing mechanisms and insights gathered from mathematical
modeling; structure/function of islets of animal models of diabetes;
immunopathogenesis; and new insights into new potential avenues for
clinical intervention. A total of thirty four chapters providing a
wealth of information on pancreatic islet structure/function in both
physiology and pathology.”

Pere Santamaria, M.D., Ph.D.
Julia McFarlane Diabetes Research Centre
Faculty of Medicine
University of Calgary
3330 Hospital Dr. N.W.
Calgary, Alberta
T2N 4N1
Canada

“It looks very comprehensive and covers all current areas of interest and
includes chapters written by world renowned contributors – very nice!”

Matthias von Herrath, MD
Professor and Director, Center for Type 1 Diabetes Research
La jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology

This book will be welcomed by islet researchers and clinicians interested in the latest developments and theories from which new therapeutics for diabetes can emerge.

Martha Pavlakis, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Medical Director, Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, MA

“The field of islet biology is assuming increasing importance with the recognition that b-cell dysfunction is a critical feature of type II diabetes. Improving b-cell function and/or b-cell mass may be the best approach to treating diabetes. Thus, the publication of a book covering so many aspects of this field is timely.”

Fred Levine, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, Burnham Institute for Medical Research
Director, Sanford Children’s Health Research Center
(858) 795-5179
flevine@burnham.org