Method for differentiating rat hepatic stem cells to insulin-producing cells
AssigneeUniversity of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorLijun Yang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Highly purified hepatic stem cells are trans-differentiated into pancreatic endocrine hormone-producing cells by culturing them in vitro in a medium containing high levels of glucose. These trans-differentiated cells express insulin, glucagon, and pancreatic polypeptide, but not hepatocyte protein Hep-par. When stimulated with glucose, these cells synthesize and secrete insulin, a response enhanced by nicotinamide. Transplantation of these trans-differentiated cells into a hyperglycemic animal normalizes blood sugar levels in the animal.
Claims14
A method for making cells having a pancreatic endocrine cell phenotype, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) isolating hepatic stem cells from the livers of 2-acetylamino-fluorene-treated adult rats;
- and
- (b) culturing said hepatic stem cells in vitro in a medium comprising greater than 5.5 mM glucose until said hepatic stem cells differentiate into cells having a pancreatic endocrine cell phenotype.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.