Cell THerapy for Diabetes: Expansion and re-differentiation of adult human pancreatic islet cells for transplantation

Invention Conditions have been discovered for efficient expansion of adult human islet cells expressing normal beta-cell function (beta-cell gene expression and insulin content) The Need Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus, which results from the autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing pancreatic islet beta cells, afflicts about 1 in 200 people. Treatment of type 1 diabetes by insulin administration can not prevent the long-term complications of the disease. Type 2 diabetes is 10-fold more prevalent, and its incidence is sharply rising. Type 2 diabetes is caused by insulin resistance, coupled with insufficient compensation in insulin secretion from beta cells. Type 2 diabetes may be managed by strict diet and exercise, and treatment with drugs that increase insulin secretion and target cell sensitivity to insulin. About 40% of type 2 diabetes patients, however, eventually require large amounts of exogenous insulin. Expansion of the beta-cell mass by transplantation may avoid the need for exogenous insulin Potential Applications Expansion of functional islet cells from single cadaveric donors for transplantation into multiple recipients for the treatment of Diabetes; and thus establishing a "cell bank" for transplantation Advantages Adult tissue source No gene modification Expansion of over 65,000 fold (within 4 months)
Stage Proliferating human islet-derived cells:

Continue to express beta cell markers Re-differentiate using unique media Remain as single cells or form small clusters Reach normal insulin content of normal islets Secrete insulin in response to glucose Preliminary in vivo data demonstrate that cell transplantation into immunodeficient diabetic mice resultd in the restoration of stable euglycemia.
Patent Pending Tech Transfer Officer Ms. Irit Ben-Chlouch Office: +972-3-6406601 Fax: +972-3-6406675 Mail: [email protected]

Inventor(s): Shimon Efrat

Type of Offer: Licensing



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