Compositions and methods for altering pancreas or liver function

• US 8,329,467 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2008
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Institute for Cancer Research (Fox Chase Cancer Center)
• Original Assignee: Fox Chase Cancer Center
• Inventors: Zaret, Kenneth S., Kashima, Yasushige
• Primary Examiner(s): Gamett, Daniel C
• Application Number:
  US12/598,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20100129351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,698 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 435/377
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/16 for liver or gallbladder disorders, e.g. hepatoprotective agents, cholagogues, litholytics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/18 for pancreatic disorders, e.g. pancreatic enzymes
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 3/10 for hyperglycaemia, e.g. antidiabetics
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/58 Adhesion molecules, e.g. ICAM, VCAM, CD18 (ligand), CD11 (ligand), CD49 (ligand)
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/998 Proteins not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0676 Pancreatic cells

Abstract

Methods for altering pancreatic and liver cell function are provided, wherein the compositions and methods are based on use of netrin-4 or on altering the activity of netrin-4.

Claims

1. A method for promoting differentiation of a partially differentiated pancreatic progenitor cell comprising contacting a partially differentiated pancreatic progenitor cell with an effective amount of netrin-4, thereby promoting differentiation of said pancreatic progenitor cell into a pancreatic cell which expresses Ptf1a^p48 and Ngn-3.

2. A method for promoting differentiation of a partially differentiated liver progenitor cell comprising contacting a partially differentiated liver progenitor cell with an effective amount of netrin-4, thereby promoting differentiation of said liver progenitor cell into a liver cell which expresses albumin and alpha-fetoprotein.