Patent ID: 9708608
Date: 2017-07-18
CPC Classifications: A01K,A61K,A61P,C12N

Claim:
1. An in vitro or ex vivo method for producing a population of pancreatic beta-cells, comprising the steps of: inhibiting the expression of Aristaless related homeodomain protein (Arx) by contacting a population of pancreatic alpha-cells with Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) or a GABA receptor agonist in an amount sufficient to inhibit expression of Arx and induce conversion of the pancreatic alpha-cells to pancreatic beta-cells; and confirming that a population of pancreatic beta-cells suitable for administration to a subject is produced by detecting at least one of insulin production upon glucose stimulation, a beta-cell surface antigen, a beta-cell transcription factor, or a beta-cell ultrastructure.