Abstract
Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) modalities have been developed, refined, and used broadly in the study of small animal models of human biology and disease. Here, we review the importance of developing an in vivo imaging modality for real-time monitoring islets post transplantation. In order to advance our understanding of the pathophysiology and immunobiology of islet transplantation as they occur in living animals, islet grafts tagged with lightemitting luciferase can be implanted in a mouse islet transplantation model and assessed using in vivo BLI. Some of the preliminary data, considerations of using the system, and future applications of BLI in the field of islet transplantation research are discussed.
Keywords: bioluminescence, imaging, islet transplantation, in vivo, transgenic mice, luciferase, luciferin
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