Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors as stimulators of endocrine differentiation
First Claim
1. A method of inducing differentiation of endocrine cells, said method comprising culturing a mammalian endocrine precursor cell in the presence of a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor whereby said endocrine precursor cell differentiates into a cell having endocrine activity.
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Abstract
This invention pertains to the discovery that inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) in human fetal undifferentiated cells induces morphological and functional endocrine differentiation. This is associated with an increase in mRNA levels of insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin, as well as an increase in the insulin protein content and secretion response to secretagogues. Blockade of PI3K also increases the proportion of pluripotent precursor cells coexpressing multiple hormones and the total number of terminally differentiated cells originating from these precursor cells.
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8 Claims
- 1. A method of inducing differentiation of endocrine cells, said method comprising culturing a mammalian endocrine precursor cell in the presence of a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor whereby said endocrine precursor cell differentiates into a cell having endocrine activity.
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