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Organisation:	FLANDERSBIO
Contact person:	Willem Dhooge
Contact details:	Not avilable
Organisation Details
Founded (Year):	0
No of employees:	250+
Organisation Type:	University
Company (Organisation) details
Areas of activity:
-  Medicine, Human Health
1) Technology Offer
METHOD OF GENERATING ISLET BETA-CELLS FROM EXOCRINE PANCREATIC CELLS
ABSTRACT: The present invention reports the in vitro transdifferentiation of acinar cells into beta-cells in a primary culture model with a specific combination of growth factors. The present invention further relates to insulin secreting cell populations for the treatment of diabetes. DESCRIPTION: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder, specifically affecting carbohydrate metabolism. It is a disease characterized by persistent hyperglycemia (high glucose blood sugar). It is a metabolic disease that requires medical diagnosis, treatment and lifestyle changes. The World Health Organization recognizes three main forms of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. Type 1 is generally due to autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing cells — beta cells — while type 2 and gestational diabetes are due to insulin resistance by tissues. Type 2 may progress to destruction of the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. Since the first therapeutic use of insulin (1921) diabetes has been a treatable but chronic condition, and the main risks to health are its characteristic long-term complications, including cardiovascular disease, chronic renal failure, retinal and nerve damage and others Betacells are generally known as specialized cells in the pancreas, regulating glucose levels in the bloodstream by making insulin, monitoring glucose levels, and secreting appropriate insulin quantities in response to elevated glucose levels. Together with glucagon secreting alpha cells, they form the majority of the endocrine cell population of the pancreas. EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor) and other EGF-family members have been implicated in the regulation of embryonic development as well as regeneration of the endocrine pancreas. EGF stimulates proliferation of the undifferentiated pancreatic precursor cells in vitro. In transgenic mice lacking functional EGF- receptors, islet morphogenesis is impaired and beta-cell differentiation is delayed. LIF (Leukemia inhibitory factor) is a pleiotropic cytokine that binds to the gp130 receptor. It is a well-known regulator of stem cell proliferation and differentiation and is widely used to prevent differentiation of embryonic stem cells. A function for LIF in pancreatic development has sofar not been described. LlF and EGF have been reported to act synergistically as signals that regulate the differentiation of neurons and glial cells in embryos. In astrocyte progenitors EGF increases the competence to interpret LIF as an astrocyte-inducing signal via increased STAT3 phosphorylation.LIF is also considered a key signal for injury-induced neurogenesis in the adult. The present invention reports the in vitro transdifferentiation of acinar cells into beta-cells in a primary culture model with a specific combination of growth factors. INNOVATIVE ASPECTS: MAIN ADVANTADGES / BENEFITS: TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: CURRENT STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (IPR): patents pending MARKET APPLICATIONS: The regulation of beta-cell neogenesis in the pancreas could lead to applications in the field of cell replacement or regeneration therapies for diabetes TYPE OF COLLABORATION SOUGHT: Licensing partners, collaborative projects PARTNER PROFILE:
Market application:
-  Health issue treatment -  Other human health related topics
Further comments	Diabetes type 1&2 Drug development (in vitro models to investigate insulin secretion by beta cells)
Entry/Update:	2006-12-11  /  2007-02-15