| abstract |
The present invention relates to methods of initiating insulin production in mammalian cells, which involve introducing into the cells pdx-1 protein or a functionally equivalent analogue, variant or fragment thereof which is in functional conjunction with both the VP16 transcriptional activator sequence and the TAT transduction domain. The invention also relates to methods of treatment or prevention of diabetes mellitus, and in particular of type 1 diabetes. The methods of treatment or prevention involve the initiation of insulin production in cells that would otherwise not produce insulin, or of increased insulin production in cells that normal would produce insulin. The methods of the invention can be conducted using the patient's own cells either in vivo, or in vitro, with the insulin producing cells then being returned to the patient. |