Engineered cells producing insulin in response to glucose
AssigneeBoard of Regents, The University of Texas System
InventorChristopher B. Newgard
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to the application of genetic engineering to provide artificial .beta. cells, i.e. cells which can secrete insulin in response to glucose. This is achieved preferably through the introduction of one or more genes selected from the insulin gene, glucokinase gene, and glucose transporter gene, so as to provide an engineered cell having all three of these genes in a biologically functional and responsive configuration. Assays for detecting the presence of diabetes-associated antibodies in biological samples using these and other engineered cells expressing diabetes-associated epitopes are described. Also disclosed are methods for the large-scale production of insulin by perfusing artificial .beta. cells, grown in liquid culture, with glucose-containing buffers.
Claims22
An engineered cell comprising a gene encoding low affinity high Km glucokinase (hexokinase IV) an insulin gene and a GLUT 2 gene, wherein at least one of said genes is a recombinant gene and the cell secretes insulin in response to glucose wherein at least one of said genes has been introduced into the cell by means of a recombinant vector.
An engineered cell derived from a cell capable of forming secretory granules, the cell comprising a functional recombinant GLUT 2 gene and glucokinase gene and secreting insulin in response to glucose wherein at least one of said genes has been introduced into the cell by means of a recombinant vector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.