Abstract
This study uses a novel approach to gene therapy in which plasmid DNA is targeted to the pancreas in vivo using ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) to achieve islet regeneration. Intravenous microbubbles carrying plasmids are destroyed within the pancreatic microcirculation by ultrasound, achieving local gene expression that is further targeted to Β-cells by a modified rat insulin promoter (RIP3.1). A series of genes implicated in endocrine development were delivered to rats 2 days after streptozotocin-induced diabetes. The genes, PAX4, Nkx2.2, Nkx6.1, Ngn3 and Mafa, produced α-cell hyperplasia, but no significant improvement in Β-cell mass or blood glucose level 30 days after UTMD. In contrast, RIP3.1-NeuroD1 promoted islet regeneration from surviving Β-cells, with normalization of glucose, insulin and C-peptide levels at 30 days. In a longer-term experiment, four of six rats had a return of diabetes at 90 days, accompanied by Β-cell apoptosis on Tunel staining. Pretreatment with the JNK inhibitor SP600125 successfully blocked Β-cell apoptosis and resulted in restoration of Β-cell mass and normalization of blood glucose level for up to 90 days. This technique allows in vivo islet regeneration, restoration of Β-cell mass and normalization of blood sugar, insulin and C-peptide in rats without viruses.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 1411-1420 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Gene Therapy |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 2010 |
Keywords
- diabetes
- islets transcriptional factors
- microbubble
- pancreatic islets
- regeneration
- ultrasound
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Medicine
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics