(Journal Article): Reversal of hyperglycemia in mice by using human expandable insulin producing cells differentiated from fetal liver progenitor cells.
 
Zalzman M, Gupta S, Giri RK, Berkovich I, Sappal BS, Karnieli O, Zern MA, Fleischer N, Efrat S (Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.)
 
IN: Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2003; 100(12):7253-7258

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ABSTRACT: Beta-cell replacement is considered to be the most promising approach for treatment of type 1 diabetes. Its application on a large scale is hindered by a shortage of cells for transplantation. Activation of insulin expression, storage, and regulated secretion in stem/progenitor cells offers novel ways to overcome this shortage. We explored whether fetal human progenitor liver cells (FH) could be induced to differentiate into insulin-producing cells after expression of the pancreatic duodenal homeobox 1 (Pdx1) gene, which is a key regulator of pancreatic development and insulin expression in beta cells. FH cells possess a considerable replication capacity, and this was further extended by introduction of the gene for the catalytic subunit of human telomerase. Immortalized FH cells expressing Pdx1 activated multiple beta-cell genes, produced and stored considerable amounts of insulin, and released insulin in a regulated manner in response to glucose. When transplanted into hyperglycemic immunodeficient mice, the cells restored and maintained euglycemia for prolonged periods. Quantitation of human C-peptide in the mouse serum confirmed that the glycemia was normalized by the transplanted human cells. This approach offers the potential of a novel source of cells for transplantation into patients with type 1 diabetes.

TYPE OF PUBLICATION: Original article

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• Street CN, Lakey JR, Rajotte RV, Shapiro AM, Kieffer TJ, Lyon JG, Kin T, Korbutt GS. Enriched Human Pancreatic Ductal Cultures Obtained from Selective Death of Acinar Cells Express Pancreatic and Duodenal Homeobox Gene-1 Age-Dependently. Rev Diabetic Stud 2004. 1: 66-79.
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