Figure 1.

Graphical illustration of relevant islet physiology. (A) The native peri-islet space consists of acinar cell clusters surrounding the pancreatic islets. The islets have an afferent blood vessel adjacent to their structure that quickly converts into tortuous capillary systems. A cross-section of an islet highlights the rosette-like architecture composed of endocrine cells wrapped around a capillary. The interstitial space adjacent to the islets also consists of ECM. (B) Intra-islet architectural organization in a rosette-like structure where distinct faces of an endocrine cell with respect to the capillary are visualized. (C) The subcellular interface of islets showing relevant molecules and cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Illustration not drawn to scale.