Regenerative MedicineEngineered Blood Vessels Unlock Functional Maturity in Lab-Grown Insulin-Producing Islets
Researchers at UC San Diego engineered 3D vascularized islet organoids by combining stem cell-derived islet cells with human endothelial cells and fibroblasts. The addition of vasculature significantly improved beta-cell calcium responses to glucose stimulation — a key marker of insulin-secreting function. When implanted into diabetic mice at a subtherapeutic dose, vascularized islets reversed diabetes faster than non-vascularized ones. The team identified two key mechanisms: endothelial cells deposit an islet-like basement membrane that boosts beta-cell signaling, and they secrete BMP4, a growth factor that enhances calcium influx and insulin secretion. This platform could transform diabetes research, drug testing, and cell therapy development.
