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Guo P, Zhang T, Lu A, Shiota C, Huard M, Whitney KE, Huard J. Specific reprogramming of alpha cells to insulin-producing cells by short glucagon promoter-driven Pdx1 and MafA. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 28:355-365. [PMID: 36879848 PMCID: PMC9984919 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Endogenous reprogramming of pancreas-derived non-beta cells into insulin-producing cells is a promising approach to treat type 1 diabetes (T1D). One strategy that has yet to be explored is the specific delivery of insulin-producing essential genes, Pdx1 and MafA, to pancreatic alpha cells to reprogram the cells into insulin-producing cells in an adult pancreas. In this study, we used an alpha cell-specific glucagon (GCG) promoter to drive Pdx1 and MafA transcription factors to reprogram alpha cells to insulin-producing cells in chemically induced and autoimmune diabetic mice. Our results showed that a combination of a short glucagon-specific promoter with AAV serotype 8 (AAV8) can be used to successfully deliver Pdx1 and MafA to pancreatic alpha cells in the mouse pancreas. Pdx1 and MafA expression specifically in alpha cells were also able to correct hyperglycemia in both induced and autoimmune diabetic mice. With this technology, targeted gene specificity and reprogramming were accomplished with an alpha-specific promotor combined with an AAV-specific serotype and provide an initial basis to develop a novel therapy for the treatment of T1D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Guo
- Center for Regenerative & Personalized Medicine, Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, CO 81657, USA.,Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
| | - Ting Zhang
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Aiping Lu
- Center for Regenerative & Personalized Medicine, Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, CO 81657, USA.,Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
| | - Chiyo Shiota
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Matthieu Huard
- Center for Regenerative & Personalized Medicine, Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, CO 81657, USA.,Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
| | - Kaitlyn E Whitney
- Center for Regenerative & Personalized Medicine, Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, CO 81657, USA
| | - Johnny Huard
- Center for Regenerative & Personalized Medicine, Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, CO 81657, USA.,Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
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