Method for promoting regeneration of pancreatic beta-cells by administering neurturin
The present invention relates generally to methods for preventing and/or treating pancreatic disorders, particularly those related to diabetes, by administering a neurturin protein product.
1. A method for promoting regeneration of pancreatic beta-cells in a mammal having impaired beta-cell function, comprising the step of:
administering a neurturin product to said mammal in an amount sufficient to increase neurturin concentration relative to an untreated mammal having impaired beta-cell function, wherein the number of functional beta-cells in said mammal administered the neurturin product are increased; wherein the neurturin product comprises a biologically active neurturin polypeptide; wherein the biologically active neurturin polypeptide is capable of dimerizing with another neurturin polypeptide and activating RET signaling; and wherein the biologically active neurturin polypeptide shares at least 90% sequence identity with:
a) the human neurturin precursor protein having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7; or
b) the mature neurturin protein product that results from the cleavage of the human neurturin protein precursor having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said mammal having impaired beta-cell function suffers from diabetes type I.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said mammal having impaired beta-cell function suffers from diabetes type II.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said mammal having impaired beta-cell function suffers from latent autoimmune diabetes in adults.
5. A method for treating a mammal having impaired beta-cell function, wherein said method comprises the steps of:
a) administering a neurturin product to said mammal in an amount sufficient to increase neurturin concentration relative to an untreated mammal having impaired beta-cell function; wherein the neurturin product comprises a biologically active neurturin polypeptide; wherein the biologically active neurturin polypeptide is capable of dimerizing with another neurturin polypeptide and activating RET signaling; and wherein the biologically active neurturin polypeptide shares at least 90% sequence identity with:
i) the human neurturin precursor protein having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7; or
ii) the mature neurturin protein product that results from the cleavage of the human neurturin protein precursor having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7;
b) administering to said mammal an immunosuppressive agent.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said mammal having impaired beta-cell function suffers from diabetes type I.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein said mammal having impaired beta-cell function suffers from diabetes type II.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein said mammal having impaired beta-cell function suffers from latent autoimmune diabetes in adults.
9. A method for promoting regeneration of pancreatic beta-cells in a mammal having impaired beta-cell function, comprising the step of:
administering a neurturin product to said mammal in an amount sufficient to increase neurturin concentration relative to an untreated mammal having impaired beta-cell function, wherein the number of functional beta-cells in said mammal administered the neurturin product are increased; wherein the neurturin product comprises a biologically active neurturin polypeptide; wherein the biologically active neurturin polypeptide is capable of dimerizing with another neurturin polypeptide, wherein the biologically active neurturin polypeptide shares at least 95% sequence identity with:
a) the human neurturin precursor protein having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7; or
b) the mature neurturin protein product that results from the cleavage of the human neurturin protein precursor having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the biologically active neurturin polypeptide shares 100% sequence identity with:
a) the human neurturin precursor protein having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7; or
b) the mature neurturin protein product that results from the cleavage of the human neurturin protein precursor having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein said mammal having impaired beta-cell function suffers from diabetes type I.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein said mammal having impaired beta-cell function suffers from diabetes type II.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein said mammal having impaired beta-cell function suffers from latent autoimmune diabetes in adults.
14. A method for treating a mammal having impaired beta-cell function, wherein said method comprises the steps of:
administering a neurturin product to said mammal in an amount sufficient to increase neurturin concentration relative to an untreated mammal having impaired beta-cell function, wherein the number of functional beta-cells in said mammal administered the neurturin product are increased; wherein the neurturin product comprises a biologically active neurturin polypeptide; wherein the biologically active neurturin polypeptide is capable of dimerizing with another neurturin polypeptide, wherein the biologically active neurturin polypeptide shares at least 95% sequence identity with:
a) the human neurturin precursor protein having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7; or
b) the mature neurturin protein product that results from the cleavage of the human neurturin protein precursor having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the biologically active neurturin polypeptide shares 100% sequence identity with:
a) the human neurturin precursor protein having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7; or
b) the mature neurturin protein product that results from the cleavage of the human neurturin protein precursor having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein said mammal having impaired beta-cell function suffers from diabetes type I.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein said mammal having impaired beta-cell function suffers from diabetes type II.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein said mammal having impaired beta-cell function suffers from latent autoimmune diabetes in adults.