Ectonucleoside Triphosphate Diphosphohydrolase-3 Antibody Targets Adult Human Pancreatic β Cells for In Vitro and In Vivo Analysis

Identification of cell-surface markers specific to human pancreatic β cells would allow in vivo analysis and imaging. Here we introduce a biomarker, ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase-3 (NTPDase3), that is expressed on the cell surface of essentially all adult human β cells, including those from individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. NTPDase3 is expressed dynamically during postnatal human pancreas development, appearing first in acinar cells at birth, but several months later its expression declines in acinar cells while concurrently emerging in islet β cells. Given its specificity and membrane localization, we utilized an NTPDase3 antibody for purification of live human β cells as confirmed by transcriptional profiling, and, in addition, for in vivo imaging of transplanted human β cells. Thus, NTPDase3 is a cell-surface biomarker of adult human β cells, and the antibody directed to this protein should be a useful new reagent for β cell sorting, in vivo imaging, and targeting. [Display omitted] •NTPDase3 is a marker highly expressed in adult human pancreatic β cells•NTPDase3 expression is maintained in β cells from individuals with diabetes•Use of an NTPDase3 antibody enables isolation of live β cells from human islets•NTPDase3 antibody also allows detection of human β cells by in vivo imaging Identification of human pancreatic β cell-specific markers is important in advancing our knowledge of human β cell development and physiology. Saunders et al. identify NTPDase3 as a highly enriched biomarker expressed on adult human β cells and show that an NTPDase3 antibody can be used for in vivo live β cell sorting and imaging.