Cell-replacement therapy for diabetes: Generating functional insulin-producing tissue from adult human liver cells

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0405277102
• Publication Date: 2005-05-18T03:19:38Z
• Authors: Tamar Sapir; Keren Shternhall; Irit Meivar-Levy; Tamar Blumenfeld; Hamutal Cohen; Ehud Skutelsky; Smadar Eventov-Fr...; Iris Barshack; Iris Goldberg; Sarah Pri-Chen; Lya Ben-Dor; Sylvie Polak-Charcon; Avraham Karasik; Ilan Shimon; Eytan Mor; Sarah Ferber
• Keywords: Cell therapy; Renal capsule; Human liver; Immunosuppression

Shortage in tissue availability from cadaver donors and the need for life-long immunosuppression severely restrict large-scale application of cell-replacement therapy diabetic patients. This study suggests potential use adult human liver as alternate autologous beta-cell-replacement therapy. By using pancreatic duodenal homeobox gene 1 (PDX-1) soluble factors, we induced a comprehensive developmental shift cells into functional insulin-producing cells. PDX-1-treated express insulin, store it defined granules, secrete hormone glucose-regulated manner. When transplanted under renal capsule diabetic, immunodeficient mice, ameliorated hyperglycemia prolonged periods time. Inducing redirection offers diabetics by allowing patient to be donor his own tissue.