911 results about "Pancreatic islets" patented technology

The invention encompasses novel methods for developing a computer model of type 1 diabetes in a mammal. In particular, the models can include representations of biological processes associated with a pancreatic lymph node and one or more pancreatic islets. Alternatively, the models can include representations of biological processes associated with at least two conditions selected from the group consisting of autoreactive T cell production, autoreactive T cell priming, insulitis and hyperglycemia. The invention also provides methods for developing a computer model of a non-insulin replacement treatment of type 1 diabetes. The invention also encompasses computer models of type 1 diabetes, methods of simulating type 1 diabetes and computer systems for simulating type 1 diabetes and the uses thereof.

Disclosed are methods for the use of therapeutic polypeptide-encoding polynucleotides in the creation of transformed host cells and transgenic animals. In particular, the use of recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vector compositions that specifically target mammalian cells, such as pancreatic islets cells, that express low-density lipoprotein receptors on their cell surface. The disclosed vectors comprise one or more polynucleotide sequences that express one or more mammalian polypeptides having therapeutic efficacy in the amelioration, treatment and / or prevention of AAT- or cytokine polypeptide deficiencies, such as for example in diabetes and related diseases, as well as a variety of autoimmune disorders including, for example, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods and devices for ablating portions of a tissue volume with electromagnetic radiation (EMR) to produce lattices of EMR-treated ablation islets in the tissue are disclosed, including lattices of micro-holes, micro-grooves, and other structures. Also, methods and devices for using the ablated islets are disclosed, including to deliver chromophores, filler, drugs and other substances to the tissue volume.

Methods of treatment of tissue with electromagnetic radiation (EMR) to produce lattices of EMR-treated islets in the tissue are disclosed. Specifically, methods of treating internal hard and soft tissues, such as but not limited to organs, bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, vessels and nerves, with such EMR-treated islets are described. Also disclosed are devices and systems for producing lattices of EMR-treated islets in tissue, and cosmetic and medical applications of such devices and systems.

The invention relates to a morphinan-derivative that targets NMDA receptors on pancreatic islets and has the general formula (I)whereinR1 is selected from —OH, —CO2H, —R0, —OR0, —OC(═O)R0, —OC(═O)OR0 or —OC(═O)NHR0; and R2 is selected from —H, —R0, —C(═O)R0, —C(═O)OR0, —C(═O)NHR0 or —C(═NH)—NH—C(═NH)—NH2; wherein R0 is in each case independently selected from —C1-C6-alkyl, -aryl, -heteroaryl, —C1-C6-alkyl-aryl or —C1-C6-alkyl-heteroaryl, in each case independently unsubstituted or substituted;or its physiologically acceptable salt and / or stereoisomer, including mixtures thereof in all ratios, for use in the treatment of a disease or condition, where the disease or condition is insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, obesity, and / or diabetic nephropathy.

Apparatus (18) is provided for sensing electrical activity of a pancreas (20) of a patient. The apparatus (18) includes a set of one or more electrodes (100), adapted to be coupled to the pancreas (20), and to generate activity signals indicative of electrical activity of pancreatic cells which are in a plurality of islets of the pancreas (20). The apparatus (18) also includes a control unit (90), adapted to receive the activity signals, and to generate an output signal responsive thereto.

The invention relates to isolated DNA or RNA molecules comprising at least ten contiguous bases having a sequence in a pancreatic islet microRNA. In another embodiment, the invention relates to isolated single stranded pancreatic islet microRNA molecules or anti-pancreatic islet microRNA molecules.

It is intended to provide a method of forming pancreatic β cells from mesenchymal cells characterized by comprising using mammal-origin mesenchymal cells as starting cells, culturing these cells in the presence of, for example, a pancreatic β cell-forming agent, and selecting and separating the thus obtained pancreatic βcells with the use of a gene expressed specifically in such cells as a selection marker; a remedy for glucose intolerance which comprises pancreatic β cells obtained by the above method as the active ingredient; a pancreatic β cell-forming agent such as a cytokine to be used in the above method; a method of screening a candidate compound promoting the formation of pancreatic β cells from mesenchymal cells; and a pancreatic β cell formation promoter obtained by this screening method.

The present invention provides novel complexes consisting of certain GLP-1 molecules associated with a divalent metal cation that is capable of co-precipitating with a GLP-1 molecule. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of using such complexes for enhancing the expression of insulin in B-type islet cells is claimed, as is a method for treating maturity onset diabetes mellitus in mammals, particularly humans.

A method of generating cells capable of secreting insulin is disclosed. The method comprises subjecting mammalian embryonic stem cells to set of culturing conditions suitable for differentiation of at least a portion thereof into cells displaying at least one characteristic associated with a pancreatic islet cell progenitor phenotype, and subjecting such differentiated cells to a set of culturing conditions suitable for formation of surface bound cell clusters including insulin producing cells.

Kits and compositions for producing an alginate gel are disclosed. The kits and compositions comprise soluble alginate and insoluble alginate / gelling ion particles. Methods for dispensing a self-gelling alginate dispersion are disclosed. The methods comprise forming a dispersion of insoluble alginate / gelling ion particles in a solution containing soluble alginate, and dispensing the dispersion whereby the dispersion forms an alginate gel matrix. The methods may include dispensing the dispersion into the body of an individual. An alginate gel having a thickness of greater than 5 mm and a homogenous alginate matrix network and homogenous alginate gels free of one or more of: sulfates citrates, phosphates, lactatates, EDTA or lipids are disclosed. Implantable devices comprising a homogenous alginate gel coating are disclosed. Methods of improving the viability of pancreatic islets, or other cellular aggregates or tissue, following isolation and during storage and transport are disclosed.

The invention provides a method of modulating blood glucose levels by treating or preventing pancreas-related disorders with thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) or a TRH derivative. Diabetes mellitus, pancreatic islet destruction, pancreatic beta cell malfunction, and hyperglycemia-related malfunction are preferably treated or prevented.

The invention relates to methods that allow for the efficient differentiation to form pancreatic endoderm cells from pluripotent stem cells such as human embryonic stem cells and definitive endoderm cells. The invention is directly applicable to the ultimate generation of pancreatic beta cells that could be used as part of a therapy to treat or even cure diabetes. Additionally, the present invention may be used to generate liver endoderm cells from human embryonic stem cells and definite endoderm cells as well. This invention relates to a method for generating definitive endoderm and pancreatic endoderm cells from stem cells, preferably human embryonic stem cells using defined media in the absence of feeder cells. A simply two step procedure to provide pancreatic endoderm cells from embryonic stem cells represents further embodiments of the present invention.

The present invention is a method of inhibiting islet cell transplant rejection particular, to treat diabetes, such as type-1 and type-2 diabetes, by administering to a subject an effective amount of a soluble CTLA4 mutant molecule. One example of soluble CTLA4 mutant molecule is L104EA29YIg.

The invention provides a composition for protecting islet cells during isolation and transplantation, as well as a method for increasing survival of islets and islet cells during harvest from the donor pancreas, isolation and culture, transportation, and transplantation into the recipient. The composition provides at least one Vitamin E homolog that, when combined with cell culture media, increases islet cell survival.

Human proIslet Peptides (HIP) and HIP analogs and derivatives thereof, derived from or homologous in sequence to the human REG3A protein, chromosome 2p12, are able to induce islet neogenesis from endogenous pancreatic progenitor cells. Human proIslet Peptides are used either alone or in combination with other pharmaceuticals in the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes and other pathologies related to aberrant glucose, carbohydrate, and / or lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, overweight, obesity, polycystic ovarian syndrome, eating disorders and the metabolic syndrome.

The present invention relates to the phytocannabinoid tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) for use in the protection of pancreatic islet cells. Preferably the pancreatic islet cells to be protected are beta cells. More preferably the protection of the pancreatic islet cells maintains insulin production at levels which are able to substantially control or improve control of blood glucose levels in a patient.

The present invention relates to delivery systems. In particular, the present invention provides microporous scaffolds having thereon agents (e.g., extracellular matrix proteins, exendin-4) and biological material (e.g., pancreatic islet cells). In some embodiments, the scaffolds are used for transplanting biological material into a subject. In some embodiments, the scaffolds are used in the treatment of diseases (e.g., type 1 diabetes), and related methods (e.g., diagnostic methods, research methods, drug screening).

An immunoisolatory vehicle for the implantation into an individual of cells which produce a needed product or provide a needed metabolic function. The vehicle is comprised of a core region containing isolated cells and materials sufficient to maintain the cells, and a permselective, biocompatible, peripheral region free of the isolated cells, which immunoisolates the core yet provides for the delivery of the secreted product or metabolic function to the individual. The vehicle is particularly well-suited to delivery of insulin from immunoisolated islets of Langerhans, and can also be used advantageously for delivery of high molecular weight products, such as products larger than IgG. A method of making a biocompatible, immunoisolatory implantable vehicle, consisting in a first embodiment of a coextrusion process, and in a second embodiment of a stepwise process. A method for isolating cells within a biocompatible, immunoisolatory implantable vehicle, which protects the isolated cells from attack by the immune system of an individual in whom the vehicle is implanted. A method of providing a needed biological product or metabolic function to an individual, comprising implanting into the individual an immunoisolatory vehicle containing isolated cells which produce the product or provide the metabolic function.

The invention discloses exendin-4, an analog fusion protein thereof, the corresponding polynucleotide sequence, carrier, host cell and pharmaceutical composite and a preparation method and applications of the fusion protein. The fusion protein is prepared by fusing exendin-4 and analog thereof with human immunoglobulin IgG2-Fc through special connecting peptide and has better stability and loner half-life in vivo. The fusion protein can be administered by performing local delivery, using aerosol and using injection. The fusion protein can promote the regeneration and repair of islet beta cells, increase islet beta cells, promote the secretion of insulin and improve the sensitivity of organism to insulin. The fusion protein is used to cure diabetes, adiposity and other diseases which can be benefited by reducing plasma glucose and inhibiting gastrointestinal motility and gastric emptying.

Advanced Bioreactor Cell Culture Technology presents a method of cell culturing and bioprocessing incorporating molecular biology techniques, advanced process control methodology, and a process control interface applied to a two liquid phase cell culture bioreactors to proliferate, grow, and expand non-differentiated precursor cells, embryonic stem (ES) cells, endocrine progenitor cells, pancreatic progenitor cells, pancreatic stem cells, pancreatic duct epithelial cells, nestin-positive islet-derived progenitor cells (NIPs), or pluripotent non-embryonic stem (PNES) cells in the bioreactor, and influence, stimulate, and induce the non-differentiated precursors and progenitors into fully differentiated beta cell phenotypes; including microprocessor control of cell culture process variables and data acquisition during bioprocessing. The invention may be applied to precursors and progenitor cells either transgenic or non-transgenic derived from animals and mammals.

The present invention relates to insulin derivatives which are naturally occurring insulins or analogues thereof which have a side chain attached either to the α-amino group of the N-terminal amino acid residue of the B chain or to the ε-amino group of a Lys residue present in the B chain of the parent insulin, the side chain being of the general formula: -W-X-Y-Z wherein W, X, Y and Z are as defined in the disclosure.

The invention relates to methods for potentiating, enhancing or restoring glucose responsivity in pancreatic islets or cells. The methods can be used as therapies for diseases caused by, or coincident with, aberrant glucose metabolism, such as Type II Diabetes Mellitus.

A cell composition of endocrine progenitor cells derived from mammalian pancreatic islet cells that can be trans-planted into a diabetic patient such that the cells of the cell composition differentiates into functioning insulin-producing beta cells.

An implantable biomaterial scaffold having islet cells or small islet cell clusters attached thereto in a multilayer. The cells are derived by enzymatic dispersion and / or calcium depletion of large adult intact islets.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus and other conditions relating to inadequate insulin or diminished levels of insulin can be treated by administering a pancreatic islet cell regeneration agent and / or an agent that transforms pancreatic ductal cells to islet cells in combination with administration of an agent that selectively inhibits, blocks, or destroys the autoimmune cells that target pancreatic islet cells.