NTPDase3 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 (T1D, T2D). 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 emerges 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. Total of 5 non-diabetic control donors were analyzed. β-cells were FACS-sorted and RNA was extracted from each of these samples. RNAseq was performed on all 5 samples.