Exp Mol Med.  2003 Dec;35(6):494-500.

Adenoviral mediated hepatocyte growth factor gene attenuates hyperglycemia and beta cell destruction in overt diabetic mice

• Park MK
• Kim DK
• Lee HJ

Abstract

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent mitogen and promoter of proliferation of insulin producing beta cells of pancreatic islets. To study the role of HGF, an adenoviral vector carrying the human HGF (Ad.hHGF) gene was transfected into the streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice and evaluated the effect on the blood glucose metabolism and the insulin-secreting beta cells of pancreatic islets. Ad.hHGF gene transfection resulted in amelioration of hyperglycemia and prolongation of survival period in the diabetic mice. Concomitantly adenoviral- mediated hHGF gene therapy slightly increased serum insulin concentration and the expression of insulin in the pancreatic islet. Although the proliferation of beta-cell mass was not noticeable, the beneficial effect of HGF is significant to an almost deteriorated pancreatic islets. Taken together, these data suggest that the Ad.hHGF gene therapy into diabetic mice may prevent the further destruction and present as a beneficial remedy for type 1 diabetic patients.

Keyword

adenovirus; diabetes mellitus; gene therapy; hepatocyte growth factor; islets of Langerhans; streptozotocin

MeSH Terms

Adenoviridae/*genetics/physiology
Animals
Blood Glucose/analysis
Body Weight
Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/blood/genetics/*metabolism/*therapy
*Gene Therapy
Hepatocyte Growth Factor/genetics/*metabolism
Humans
Hyperglycemia/blood/complications/genetics/*therapy
Insulin/blood
Islets of Langerhans/metabolism/*pathology
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Recombinant Proteins/genetics/metabolism
Survival Rate