A couple of very interesting images have been posted up on the Popular Science website which show immune cells attacking the pancreas in mice. It is a prime view of how type 1 diabetes develops and the article says that it may help researchers in their quest for a cure – starting with finding a method to halt this attack.
In the images and short video from the La Jolla Institute for Allergy Immunology, you can clearly see purple T cells attacking the pancreatic islets (the green congregations in the center). Apparently, this is the very first time a two-photon microscope has been used to study the attack. The pancreas is hidden beneath other organs and is difficult to see clearly.
The colors have of course been artificially produced in order to help scientists see the action. George Eisenbarth from the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes in Denver described the images as “remarkable,” and says that they will provide researchers with a solid platform on which to try new experiments. The paper stresses that in order to stop the onset of type 1, scientists need to find a way to halt the process in the very beginning.
As much as we still need to learn about diabetes, it is exciting to see that technology is advancing and providing a clearer look into what is going on. Knowledge is the first step towards a cure.
– Stoyan
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