GHRH AGONISTS FOR ISLET CELL TRANSPLANTATION AND FUNCTION AND THE TREATMENT OF DIABETES

摘要

Disclosed herein are compositions of GHRH agonists and peptides, and methods to treat diabetes. In one embodiment, a method of promoting survival of grafted cells and/or tissues may involve exposing the cells and/or tissues to an effective amount of at least one agonist of GHRH. In some embodiments, the grafted cells and/or tissues may be pancreatic cells. In some embodiments, the grafted cells may be islet cells co-cultured with non-pancreatic cells. In a further embodiment, a method of treating a patient diagnosed with diabetes involves transplanting and/or grafting the islet cells and/or tissues comprising islet cells into a patient, and administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one agonist of GHRH to the patient. In some embodiments, the islet cells and/or tissues comprising islet cells may be optionally exposed to GHRH and/or at least one agonist of GHRH prior to transplantation into a patient. In some embodiments, the at least one agonist of GHRH is administered pre-transplantation, concurrently with transplantation, post-transplantation or any combinations thereof.