Researchers from the DQBM Bodenmiller Lab used imaging mass cytometry to analyse more than 16 million cells from pancreatic samples of 88 organ donors. The study included people at preclinical autoantibody-positive stages, enabling detailed investigation of changes before extensive loss of insulin-producing beta cells.
The researchers identified early interactions between pro-inflammatory macrophages and exhausted-like T cells, alongside reduced IAPP expression in beta cells. They also observed inflammatory signatures in infiltrated islets and immune patterns associated with younger age. The resulting spatial dataset provides a major resource for studying disease progression and highlights potential therapeutic targets at early stages.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-026-01559-z