Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Debra A Hullett

Hans W Sollinger

Tausif Alam

Hector Floyd Deluca

Colleen E Hayes

Margherita T Cantorna

Jean Humpal-Winter

Disclosed is a method for obtaining glucose-regulated expression of active insulin in the cells of a mammalian subject. The method involves delivering into the subject a genetic construct comprising a coding sequence for a human proinsulin operably connected a promoter functional in the host cells. The construct includes a glucose responsive regulatory module having at least one glucose inducible regulatory element comprising a pair of CACGTG motifs linked by a five base nucleotide sequence, which confers glucose inducible expression of the proinsulin coding sequence. To ensure proper processing of the proinsulin to active insulin, the coding sequence was modified to direct the synthesis of a mutant proinsulin polypeptide having amino acid sequences that can be cleaved to mature insulin in suitable host cells, such as hepatocytes.

Treatment of diabetes with synthetic beta cells

A method of moderating transplant rejection in a transplant recipient comprising administering a dose of vitamin D compound effective to prevent transplant rejection is disclosed. Preferably, the recipient's susceptibility to opportunistic infections has not been compromised. Also preferably, the recipient has not suffered bone demineralization.

Use of vitamin D compounds to prevent transplant rejection

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Madison, WI, United States of America

Debra A Hullett