Multiplexed In Situ Imaging Mass Cytometry Analysis of the Human Endocrine Pancreas and Immune System in Type 1 Diabetes.

Summary The interaction between the immune system and endocrine cells in the pancreas is crucial for the initiation and progression of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Imaging mass cytometry (IMC) enables multiplexed assessment of the abundance and localization of more than 30 proteins on the same tissue section at 1-μm resolution. Herein, we have developed a panel of 33 antibodies that allows for the quantification of key cell types including pancreatic exocrine cells, islet cells, immune cells, and stromal components. We employed this panel to analyze 12 pancreata obtained from donors with clinically diagnosed T1D and 6 pancreata from non-diabetic controls. In the pancreata from donors with T1D, we simultaneously visualized significant alterations in islet architecture, endocrine cell composition, and immune cell presentation. Indeed, we demonstrate the utility of IMC to investigate complex events on the cellular level that will provide new insights on the pathophysiology of T1D. Graphical Abstract Highlights • Imaging mass cytometry enables multiplexed histological analyses at 1-μm resolution • Islets are altered in architecture and composition during T1D progression • Islet cells show changes in protein expression during T1D progression • Immune cells are highly proliferative in T1D pancreata Wang et al. use imaging mass cytometry (IMC) to profile the pancreata of type 1 diabetes donors at varying stages of disease progression. They see significant alterations in islet architecture, endocrine cell composition, and immune cell presentation, highlighting the utility of IMC to dissect cellular events underlying disease pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]