According to Dr. Coppieters, the movies show the exact behaviors of various cells: We're able to see how the beta cells eventually die and how the immune T cells access the pancreas from the blood stream. Among the several insights the investigators obtained, they were able to distinguish the exact blood vessels where the T cells (usually these cells do not live in the pancreas) enter the pancreas, as well as how the T cells launch an attack and the time sequence of events.
Furthermore, the movies highlight intriguing data about the beta cell destruction process. Dr. Coppieters said: The T cells move randomly throughout the pancreas until they encounter the beta cells, where they slow down and release toxic substances that eventually kill the beta cells. What was more surprising is that this "kiss of death" takes quite a while, elaborate calculations indicated a timeline in the order of hours (to kill a few beta cells).
In addition, the movies show the exact behaviors of various cells the team discovered that a significant number of T cells are required in the mice tens of millions to produce massive beta cell destruction.
Furthermore, the movies highlight intriguing data about the beta cell destruction process. Dr. Coppieters said: The T cells move randomly throughout the pancreas until they encounter the beta cells, where they slow down and release toxic substances that eventually kill the beta cells. What was more surprising is that this "kiss of death" takes quite a while, elaborate calculations indicated a timeline in the order of hours (to kill a few beta cells).
In addition, the movies show the exact behaviors of various cells the team discovered that a significant number of T cells are required in the mice tens of millions to produce massive beta cell destruction.