One of the earlier attempts at transdifferentiating liver cells into pancreatic beta cells was reported by Ferber and colleagues in 2000. Using a “gain-of-function” strategy, they transferred a constitutively active Pdx1 cassette to recipient mice by means of an adenoviral vehicle . Ectopic expression of the gene was mainly observed in the liver, where it activated the expression of the endogenous genes Insulin 1 and 2 and prohormone convertase 1/3 (PC 1/3). These genes are typically active in beta cells, but not in liver tissue. Plasmatic insulin levels were substantially elevated in treated mice compared with controls treated with an empty virus alone. More strikingly, ectopic insulin expression was found to reduce glucose levels in Read the rest of this entry »