Clardy, Susan M.Mohan, James F.Vinegoni, ClaudioKeliher, Edmund J.Iwamoto, YoshikoBenoist, ChristopheMathis, DianeWeissleder, Ralph2015-10-012015Clardy, Susan M., James F. Mohan, Claudio Vinegoni, Edmund J. Keliher, Yoshiko Iwamoto, Christophe Benoist, Diane Mathis, and Ralph Weissleder. 2015. “Rapid, high efficiency isolation of pancreatic ß-cells.” Scientific Reports 5 (1): 13681. doi:10.1038/srep13681. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep13681.2045-2322http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:22857071The ability to isolate pure pancreatic ß-cells would greatly aid multiple areas of diabetes research. We developed a fluorescent exendin-4-like neopeptide conjugate for the rapid purification and isolation of functional mouse pancreatic β-cells. By targeting the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor with the fluorescent conjugate, β-cells could be quickly isolated by flow cytometry and were >99% insulin positive. These studies were confirmed by immunostaining, microscopy and gene expression profiling on isolated cells. Gene expression profiling studies of cytofluorometrically sorted β-cells from 4 and 12 week old NOD mice provided new insights into the genetic programs at play of different stages of type-1 diabetes development. The described isolation method should have broad applicability to the β-cell field.en-USJournal Article2015-10-0110.1038/srep13681