Prevention of Diabetes Using Adenoviral Mediated Hepatocyte Growth Factor Gene Transfer in Mice
Prevention of Diabetes Using Adenoviral Mediated Hepatocyte Growth Factor Gene Transfer in Mice
- Hye-Jeong Lee Hyun-Jeong Kim Mee-Sook Roh Jae-Ik Lee Sung-Won Lee Dong-Sik Jung Duk-Kyu Kim Mi-Kyoun
- 대한생리학회-대한약리학회
- The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology
- 제7권 제5호
- 등재여부 : KCI등재
- 2003.01
- 261 - 266 (6 pages)
Type 1 diabetes is an organ-specific autoimmune disease caused by the cytotoxic T cells-mediated destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells in the Langerhans pancreatic islets. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent mitogen and a promoter of proliferation of insulin producing beta cells of pancreatic islets. To study the role of HGF via viral vector in the development of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in mice, we have developed an adenoviral vector genetically engineered to carry the gene for human HGF (hHGF) and evaluate the change of blood glucose, insulin level, and insulin-secreting beta cells of pancreatic islets. We demonstrate that the treatment with hHGF gene prevented the development of STZ-induced diabetes and increased serum insulin level to above normal range. Furthermore, it preserved pancreatic beta cells from destruction. These <I>in vivo</I> results may support previous findings that HGF is insulinotropic agent for beta cells and HGF treatment renders the cells to be resistant to the development of diabetes from STZ administration. We suggest that an adenoviral mediated hHGF gene therapy is a good candidate for the prevention and treatment of type 1 diabetes.