Methods and compositions for stat-1 conferred resistance to immunotoxicity

摘要

The present invention describes methods and compositions for preventing immuno-cytotoxicity of transplanted cells. The invention provides cells and expression constructs encoding STAT-1alpha polypeptides that prevent cytokine-mediated cytotoxicity. Thus, the invention provides treatment methods for preventing the rejection of transplanted cells by a host. In a particular embodiment, the invention provides for treatment of diabetes by transplanting into a subject insulinoma cells that secrete insulin in response to glucose and further express STAT-1alpha, thereby conferring resistance to inflammatory cytokines involved in the cell-rejection response.