Mcgill University

The Medical College of Hampton Roads

Mogill University

Lawrence Rosenberg

Aaron I Vinik

Gary L Pittenger

Ronit Rafaeloff-Phail

William P Duguid

Ronit Rafaeloff

Jean T S Duguid

Dusica Maysinger

Pancreatic acinar cells contribute to &#x3b2;-cell neogenesis. Hamsters administered pentadecapeptide of INGAP protein demonstrated a 2-fold increase in the number of extra-islet acinar-associated &#x3b2;-cell clusters resulting in a 2.8-fold increase in the overall extra-islet &#x3b2; cell mass as compared to controls. In mammals acinar-to-&#x3b2;-cell differentiation provides an alternate pathway to &#x3b2;-cell neogenesis; INGAP peptide plays a significant role in this process.

Transdifferentiation of pancreatic acinar cells

Cellophane wrapping (CW) of hamster pancreas induces proliferation of duct epithelial cells followed by endocrine cell differentiation and islet neogenesis. Using the mRNA differential display technique a cDNA clone expressed in cellophane wrapped but not in control pancreata was identified. Using this cDNA as a probe, a cDNA library was screened and a gene not previously described was identified and named INGAP.

INGAP protein involved in pancreatic islet neogenesis

The present invention relates to an in vitro method for islet cell expansion, which comprises the steps of: a) preparing dedifferentiated cells derived from cells in or associated with post-natal islets of Langerhans; b) expanding the dedifferentiated cells; and c) inducing islet cell differentiation the expanded cells of step b) to become insulin-producing cells.

Platform for the differentiation of cells

The present invention relates to a medium for promoting the survival of islet cells, which comprises one or more growth factors in combination with FK506 in amounts having an anti-apoptotic effect on islet cells in a physiologically acceptable culture medium.

Medium to promote islet cell survival

Ingap protein involved in pancreatic islet neogenesis

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Montreal, Canada

Lawrence Rosenberg