The Islets of Langerhans

When new fellows join my lab, I give them some reading materials so that they can orient themselves in their assignment in a new eld. When fellows leave my lab, some after writing their dissertations, I prefer to give them a book as a symbolic present. I was longing for a book that contained something on more or less eve- thing about the islets. At the same time, I wished it contained information as recent as possible. There are a few such books in the market but they are pretty outdated. I started picking islets myself from October 1990, when I joined the Rolf Luft Center, Karolinska Institutet. Over the years my fascination for islet research remained high. Since last year, I felt a stronger urge to do more for these mysterious and hidden mini-organs that are directly or indirectly involved in the pathogenesis of all forms of diabetes that affects ?250 million people in the world. After I launched the Islet (landesbioscience. com/journals/islets) and founded the Islet Society (isletso- ety. org), there was a momentum that could be utilized to create something equally meaningful i. e. this book. The idea cracked in September 2008. Starting September 19, 2008, I contacted an estimated 90% of the authors who published anything on the islets during 2007–2008 and who could be traced from the internet.

"It looks very comprehensive and covers all current areas of interest and includes chapters written by world renowned contributors - very nice!"
Matthias von Herrath, MD
Professor and Director, Center for Type 1 Diabetes Research
La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology,
La Jolla CA, USA

"This book will be welcomed by islet researchers and clinicians interested in the latest developments and theories from which new therapeutics for diabetes can emerge". 
Martha Pavlakis, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Medical Director, Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, MA, USA

"The field of islet biology is assuming increasing importance with the recognition that beta-cell dysfunction is a critical feature of type II diabetes. Improving b-cell function and/or b-cell mass may be the best approach to treating diabetes. Thus, the publication of a book covering so many aspects of this field is timely". 
Fred Levine, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, Burnham Institute for Medical Research
Director, Sanford Children's Health Research Center
La Jolla, CA, USA

 "The growing prevalence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes make islet cell biology a critical concern for a wide range of scientists and health professionals. From anatomy and developmental biology, through islet physiology and biochemistry, to issues of immunology and transplantation, this book is a terrific resource".
Jonathan M.W.Slack, Ph.D., F.Med.Sci.
Director, Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota,
Medical School
Minneapolis, MN,  USA

"This book allows you to enjoy an adventurous and instructive guided tour in the archipelago of the islets of Langerhans. A team of expert and enthusiastic explorers will not only conduct the voyager through almost all niches of this complex and fascinating environment, but also provide him with clues and keys for future exploration of still hidden sites".
Prof. Pellegrino Masiello
Dept. of Experimental Pathology,
University of Pisa,
Pisa, Italy

"The pancreatic islet is a complex mini-organ whose dysfunction is critical in all forms of diabetes.  This book provides a comprehensive review of the molecular and cellular processes in islet development, gene expression, and physiology and reviews how a better understanding of the pancreatic islet will advance efforts to develop new therapeutic approaches for diabetes.  This book should be quite useful for anyone interested in the pancreatic islet or diabetes".
Alvin C. Powers, M.D.
Joe C. Davis Chair in Biomedical Science
Professor of Medicine, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
Director, Vanderbilt Diabetes Center
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
USA

"A very timely book on the Islet of Langerhans that coincides with the realization that pancreatic ß-cell failure is key to all forms of diabetes mellitus and research in the field is exploding. It contains very thoughtful chapters, each by renown experts in their field, and tackles the complexity of this micro-organ in health and disease very comprehensively and thoughtfully. It will likely become a Reference for years to come for basic researchers, clinicians and students interested is diabetes research"
Marc Prentki, PhD
Professor of Nutrition and Biochemistry
Canada Research Chair in Diabetes and Metabolism
MDRC Director
Montreal, QC
Canada