Treating type i and type ii diabetes

Abstract

This document provides methods and materials for treating diabetes. For example, methods and materials for using nucleic acid encoding human preproinsulin to treat diabetes (e.g., type I or type II diabetes) are provided.

1 . A nucleic acid construct comprising a nucleic acid encoding an insulin polypeptide and a nucleic acid encoding an inducible death switch polypeptide. 
     
     
         2 . The nucleic acid construct of  claim 1 , wherein said insulin polypeptide is a proinsulin polypeptide. 
     
     
         3 . The nucleic acid construct of  claim 1 , wherein said insulin polypeptide is a furin-activatable proinsulin polypeptide. 
     
     
         4 . The nucleic acid construct of  claim 1 , wherein said inducible death switch polypeptide is an iCasp9 polypeptide. 
     
     
         5 . The nucleic acid construct of  claim 1 , wherein said construct comprises an IRES located between said nucleic acid encoding said insulin polypeptide and said nucleic acid encoding an inducible death switch polypeptide. 
     
     
         6 . A nucleic acid vector comprising a nucleic acid construct comprising a nucleic acid encoding an insulin polypeptide and a nucleic acid encoding an inducible death switch polypeptide. 
     
     
         7 . The nucleic acid vector of  claim 6 , wherein said insulin polypeptide is a proinsulin polypeptide. 
     
     
         8 . The nucleic acid vector of  claim 6 , wherein said insulin polypeptide is a furin-activatable proinsulin polypeptide. 
     
     
         9 . The nucleic acid vector of  claim 6 , wherein said inducible death switch polypeptide is an iCasp9 polypeptide. 
     
     
         10 . The nucleic acid vector of  claim 6 , wherein said construct comprises an IRES located between said nucleic acid encoding said insulin polypeptide and said nucleic acid encoding an inducible death switch polypeptide. 
     
     
         11 . The nucleic acid vector of  claim 6 , wherein said vector is a transposon DNA vector. 
     
     
         12 . The nucleic acid vector of  claim 6 , wherein said vector is a sleeping beauty vector. 
     
     
         13 . The nucleic acid vector of  claim 6 , wherein said vector is an AAV1 vector. 
     
     
         14 . A method for treating diabetes, wherein said method comprises administering, to a mammal with diabetes, a vector comprising a nucleic acid construct comprising a nucleic acid encoding an insulin polypeptide and a nucleic acid encoding an inducible death switch polypeptide. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said mammal comprises type I diabetes. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said mammal comprises type II diabetes. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said mammal experiences hypoglycemia, and said method comprises administering an inducing agent to said mammal. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said inducible death switch polypeptide is an iCasp9 polypeptide, and said inducing agent is AP1903 or AP20187.