(Journal Article): NeuroD-betacellulin gene therapy induces islet neogenesis in the liver and reverses diabetes in mice.
 
Kojima H, Fujimiya M, Matsumura K, Younan P, Imaeda H, Maeda M, Chan L (Section of Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Departments of Medicine and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA, lchan@bcm.tmc.edu )
 
IN: Nat Med 2003; 9(5):596-603
Impact Factor(s) of Nat Med: 28.878 (2005), 31.223 (2004), 30.55 (2003), 28.74 (2002), 27.906 (2001)

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ABSTRACT: To explore induced islet neogenesis in the liver as a strategy for the treatment of diabetes, we used helper-dependent adenovirus (HDAD) to deliver the pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 gene (Ipf1; also known as Pdx-1) to streptozotocin (STZ)-treated diabetic mice. HDAD is relatively nontoxic as it is devoid of genes encoding viral protein. Mice treated with HDAD-Ipf1 developed fulminant hepatitis, however, because of the exocrine-differentiating activity of Ipf1. The diabetes of STZ mice was partially reversed by HDAD-mediated transfer of NeuroD (Neurod), a factor downstream of Ipf1, and completely reversed by a combination of Neurod and betacellulin (Btc), without producing hepatitis. Treated mice were healthy and normoglycemic for the duration of the experiment (>120 d). We detected in the liver insulin and other islet-specific transcripts, including proinsulin-processing enzymes, beta-cell-specific glucokinase and sulfonylurea receptor. Immunocytochemistry detected the presence of insulin, glucagon, pancreatic polypeptide and somatostatin-producing cells organized into islet clusters; immuno-electron microscopy showed typical insulin-containing granules. Our data suggest that Neurod-Btc gene therapy is a promising regimen to induce islet neogenesis for the treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes.

TYPE OF PUBLICATION: Original article

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