Reversal of diabetes following transplantation of an insulin-secreting human liver cell line: Melligen cells.

As an alternative to the transplantation of islets, a human liver cell line has been genetically engineered to reverse type 1 diabetes (TID). The initial liver cell line (Huh7ins) commenced secretion of insulin in response to a glucose concentration of 2.5 mmol/l.

Long-term reversal of diabetes in non-obese diabetic mice by liver-directed gene therapy.

Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) results from an autoimmune attack against the insulin-producing β-cells of the pancreas. The present study aimed to reverse T1D by gene therapy.

Methods: We used a novel surgical technique, which involves isolating the liver from the circulation before the delivery of a lentiviral vector carrying furin-cleavable human insulin (INS-FUR) or empty vector to the livers of diabetic non-obese diabetic mice (NOD).

Educating nurses about veno-thrombolytic events (VTE).

This study determined the effect of a computer-based educational program in preparing nurses to complete an assessment for veno-thrombotic risk on all patients admitted to a community hospital. The educational program included information on appropriate prophylaxis for patients at risk for veno-thrombolytic events (VTEs). Nurses were encouraged to work with physicians and pharmacists to obtain the appropriate VTE prophylaxis for all patients based on risk.

Growth-promoting effect of Rh(D) antibody on human pancreatic islet cells.

Context/objective: Hyperinsulinism with islet cell hyperplasia is a frequent complication, of unknown cause, in hemolytic disease of the newborn, occurring in Rh(D)-positive infants of Rh-isoimmunized Rh(D)-negative mothers, but not in infants with other hemolytic disorders. We investigated the possibility that trans-placentally acquired anti-D Ig is the cause of both conditions.

Design: Monolayer cultures of human islet cells were exposed to sera from Rh-isoimmunized mothers and newborns, where jaundice, hyperinsulinism, and hypoglycemia in the infant had ensued.

ATP-sensitive potassium channels induced in liver cells after transfection with insulin cDNA and the GLUT 2 transporter regulate glucose-stimulated insulin secretion.

As part of our research into the liver-directed gene therapy of Type I diabetes, we have engineered a human hepatoma cell line (HEPG2ins/g cells) to store and secrete insulin to a glucose stimulus. The aim of the present study was to determine whether HEPG2ins/g cells respond to glucose via signaling pathways that depend on ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP). Using patch-clamp electrophysiology with symmetrical KCl solutions, the single-channel conductance of KATP was 61pS.

Function of a genetically modified human liver cell line that stores, processes and secretes insulin.

An alternative approach to the treatment of type I diabetes is the use of genetically altered neoplastic liver cells to synthesize, store and secrete insulin. To try and achieve this goal we modified a human liver cell line, HUH7, by transfecting it with human insulin cDNA under the control of the cytomegalovirus promoter. The HUH7-ins cells created were able to synthesize insulin in a similar manner to that which occurs in pancreatic beta cells.