EXPANSION AND DIFFERENTIATION OF ISLET PROGENITOR CELLS

摘要

Methods and compositions are described for the treatment of type I insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The methods described permit the generation of large numbers of insulin­ producing cells for transplant to diabetic individuals from adult pancreatic donor cells. The invention describes novel methods for the ex vivo differentiation of pancreatic endocrine cells with enhanced insulin expression from expanded human islet progenitor cells in vitro. Methods are also described whereby pancreatic endocrine cells differentiated ex vivo are transplanted finto a patient in need thereof, either allogeneically, isogeneically or xenogenically, to provide replacement for lost or damaged insulin-secreting cells.