Prospects for gene therapy of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. 1998

S Efrat
Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA.

The application of gene therapy to Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus awaits improvements in gene transfer technologies and the development of better tools for accurate diagnosis of pre-diabetic people. Identification of the most promising candidate genes for gene transfer requires further elucidation of the molecular events involved in beta-cell autoimmune destruction, islet ontogeny and differentiation, and beta-cell function. This review outlines a number of possible targets for gene therapy in Type I diabetes, which could help prevent the autoimmune damage to islets, induce islet regeneration, and restore insulin production through engineering of self non-beta cells or beta-cell transplantation. It also evaluates their potential merits and drawbacks.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007328 Insulin A 51-amino acid pancreatic hormone that plays a major role in the regulation of glucose metabolism, directly by suppressing endogenous glucose production (GLYCOGENOLYSIS; GLUCONEOGENESIS) and indirectly by suppressing GLUCAGON secretion and LIPOLYSIS. Native insulin is a globular protein comprised of a zinc-coordinated hexamer. Each insulin monomer containing two chains, A (21 residues) and B (30 residues), linked by two disulfide bonds. Insulin is used as a drug to control insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 1). Iletin,Insulin A Chain,Insulin B Chain,Insulin, Regular,Novolin,Sodium Insulin,Soluble Insulin,Chain, Insulin B,Insulin, Sodium,Insulin, Soluble,Regular Insulin
D007515 Islets of Langerhans Irregular microscopic structures consisting of cords of endocrine cells that are scattered throughout the PANCREAS among the exocrine acini. Each islet is surrounded by connective tissue fibers and penetrated by a network of capillaries. There are four major cell types. The most abundant beta cells (50-80%) secrete INSULIN. Alpha cells (5-20%) secrete GLUCAGON. PP cells (10-35%) secrete PANCREATIC POLYPEPTIDE. Delta cells (~5%) secrete SOMATOSTATIN. Islands of Langerhans,Islet Cells,Nesidioblasts,Pancreas, Endocrine,Pancreatic Islets,Cell, Islet,Cells, Islet,Endocrine Pancreas,Islet Cell,Islet, Pancreatic,Islets, Pancreatic,Langerhans Islands,Langerhans Islets,Nesidioblast,Pancreatic Islet
D012038 Regeneration The physiological renewal, repair, or replacement of tissue. Endogenous Regeneration,Regeneration, Endogenous,Regenerations
D003922 Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 A subtype of DIABETES MELLITUS that is characterized by INSULIN deficiency. It is manifested by the sudden onset of severe HYPERGLYCEMIA, rapid progression to DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS, and DEATH unless treated with insulin. The disease may occur at any age, but is most common in childhood or adolescence. Diabetes Mellitus, Brittle,Diabetes Mellitus, Insulin-Dependent,Diabetes Mellitus, Juvenile-Onset,Diabetes Mellitus, Ketosis-Prone,Diabetes Mellitus, Sudden-Onset,Diabetes, Autoimmune,IDDM,Autoimmune Diabetes,Diabetes Mellitus, Insulin-Dependent, 1,Diabetes Mellitus, Type I,Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus 1,Juvenile-Onset Diabetes,Type 1 Diabetes,Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus,Brittle Diabetes Mellitus,Diabetes Mellitus, Insulin Dependent,Diabetes Mellitus, Juvenile Onset,Diabetes Mellitus, Ketosis Prone,Diabetes Mellitus, Sudden Onset,Diabetes, Juvenile-Onset,Diabetes, Type 1,Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus 1,Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus,Juvenile Onset Diabetes,Juvenile-Onset Diabetes Mellitus,Ketosis-Prone Diabetes Mellitus,Sudden-Onset Diabetes Mellitus
D005818 Genetic Engineering Directed modification of the gene complement of a living organism by such techniques as altering the DNA, substituting genetic material by means of a virus, transplanting whole nuclei, transplanting cell hybrids, etc. Genetic Intervention,Engineering, Genetic,Intervention, Genetic,Genetic Interventions,Interventions, Genetic
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001327 Autoimmune Diseases Disorders that are characterized by the production of antibodies that react with host tissues or immune effector cells that are autoreactive to endogenous peptides. Autoimmune Disease,Disease, Autoimmune,Diseases, Autoimmune
D015316 Genetic Therapy Techniques and strategies which include the use of coding sequences and other conventional or radical means to transform or modify cells for the purpose of treating or reversing disease conditions. Gene Therapy,Somatic Gene Therapy,DNA Therapy,Gene Therapy, Somatic,Genetic Therapy, Gametic,Genetic Therapy, Somatic,Therapy, DNA,Therapy, Gene,Therapy, Somatic Gene,Gametic Genetic Therapies,Gametic Genetic Therapy,Genetic Therapies,Genetic Therapies, Gametic,Genetic Therapies, Somatic,Somatic Genetic Therapies,Somatic Genetic Therapy,Therapies, Gametic Genetic,Therapies, Genetic,Therapies, Somatic Genetic,Therapy, Gametic Genetic,Therapy, Genetic,Therapy, Somatic Genetic
D018014 Gene Transfer Techniques The introduction of functional (usually cloned) GENES into cells. A variety of techniques and naturally occurring processes are used for the gene transfer such as cell hybridization, LIPOSOMES or microcell-mediated gene transfer, ELECTROPORATION, chromosome-mediated gene transfer, TRANSFECTION, and GENETIC TRANSDUCTION. Gene transfer may result in genetically transformed cells and individual organisms. Gene Delivery Systems,Gene Transfer Technique,Transgenesis,Delivery System, Gene,Delivery Systems, Gene,Gene Delivery System,Technique, Gene Transfer,Techniques, Gene Transfer,Transfer Technique, Gene,Transfer Techniques, Gene

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