abstract |
Secretory gland cells, particularly pancreatic, hepatic, and salivary gland cells, are genetically altered to operatively incorporate a gene which expresses a protein which has a desired therapeutic effect on a mammalian subject. The expressed protein is secreted directly into the bloodstream to obtain therapeutic levels of the protein thereby treating the patient in need of the protein. The transformed secretory gland cells provide long term or short term therapies for diseases associated with a deficiency in a particular protein or which are amenable to treatment by overexpression of a protein. |