| abstract |
A method for treating diabetes mellitus by administering composition providing a gastrin/CCK receptor ligand, e.g. a gastrin, and an EGP receptor ligand, e.g. TGF.alpha., in an amount sufficient to effect differentiation of pancreatic islet precursor cells to mature insulin-secreting cells. The composition can be administered systemically or expressed in situ by cells transgenically supplemented with one or both of a gastrin/CCK receptor ligand gene, e.g. a preprogastrin peptide precursor gene and an EGF receptor ligand gene, e.g. a TGF.alpha. gene. |