Establishment of pancreatic islet-like insulin producing cells by inducing differentiation of ES/iPS cells has been reported. However, no technique has been developed so far for producing functional pancreatic islet insulin-positive cells in a large amount. In addition, there are concerns regarding rejection responses, accidental immune responses, etc. The present invention provides pancreatic islet-like cells having Mycl gene introduced thereinto and a method that comprises inducing proliferation of pancreatic islet-like cells by transient expression of Mycl gene and then inducing degradation thereof into insulin producing cells.

Disclosed are compositions and methods of treating a neurodegenerative disease in an individual. The methods disclose administration of an Integrin α4β1, Very Late Antigen-4 positive neural precursor cell (“VLA4+ NPC”) transfected with a lentivirus overexpressing wild type GCase to an individual having a neurodegenerative disorder. The neurodegenerative disease may include lipid storage diseases, for example Gaucher disease, Parkinson's disease (PD), Dementia with Lewy bodies.

Methods and compositions for the prevention and treatment of liver damage or disease in a subject in need thereof are provided. The methods involve providing the sulfated oxysterol 25-hydroxycholesterol-3-sulfate (25HC3S) to the subject e.g. by 1) administering 25HC3S to the subject; or 2) overexpressing, in the subject, the hydroxysterol sulfotransferase enzyme SULT2B1b, which catalyzes the sulfation of 25-hydroxycholesterol (25HC) to form 25HC3S.

An application of a UTX gene in preparation of drugs for preventing or treating lipid diseases. The invention further discloses a method for knocking out a UTX gene from a mouse liver. The invention further discloses a UTX overexpression adenovirus as well as a preparation method and an application thereof. The invention further discloses a method for upregulating UTX expression in a mouse liver. The invention further discloses therapeutic action of UTX overexpression on HFD induced hyperlipidemia and NAFLD. The invention provides an available laboratory basis for preparing lipid-lowering drugs, so that the UTX can be used for preparing drugs affecting the lipid, and a new research method is provided for researching the occurrence and development of dyslipidemia.

Recombinant AAV (rAAV) vectors comprising a rAVV genome comprising a heterologous nucleic acid encoding a signal peptide and optionally a IGF-2 sequence, fused to an acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) polypeptide, enabling the GAA polypeptide to be secreted from the liver and targeted to the lysosomes. Particular embodiments relate to a recombinant AAV (rAAV) vector encoding an alpha-glucosidase (GAA) polypeptide, having a liver secretory signal peptide and a targeting IGF2 sequence that binds human cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate receptor (CI-MPR) or to the IGF2 receptor, permitting proper subcellular localization of the GAA polypeptide to lysosomes. Also encompassed are cells, and methods to treat a glycogen storage disease type II (GSD II) disease and/or Pompe Disease with the rAAV vector.

An obese mouse model was developed by overexpressing the mitochondrial protein prohibitin (PHB) in white adipose tissue (WAT) specific manner driven by adipocyte protein 2 (aP2) promoter. These mice begin to develop obesity as a result of mitochondrial remodeling (upregulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and function) in WAT.

The present invention relates to a transgenic pig comprising a mutated IAPP gene and displaying a phenotype associated with diabetes. The invention also relates to a transgenic blastocyst, embryo, fetus, donor cell and/or cell nucleusderived from said transgenic pig. The invention further relates to use of the transgenic pig as a model system for studying therapy, treatment and/or prevention of diabetes.

The present invention relates to methods of treating or preventing a metabolic disorder in a subject, methods of treating or preventing coronary artery disease in a subject with a metabolic disorder, as well as methods of reducing hepatic glucose production in a subject. Such methods include, but are not limited to, the administration to the subject of inhibitors or activators of CaMKII, IP3Rs, calcineurin, p38, MK2/3, HDAC4, Dach1, Dach2, or any combination thereof. The invention also provides methods of identifying a compound that inhibits the activity of CaMKII, IP3Rs, calcineurin, p38, MK2/3, HDAC4, Dach1 or Dach2, or reduces the activity and/or activation of CaMKII, IP3Rs, calcineurin, p38, MK2/3, HDAC4, Dach1 or Dach, or activates CaMKII, IP3Rs, calcineurin, p38, MK2/3, HDAC4, Dach1 or Dach2.

The invention described herein provides non-HLA matched humanized mouse model (e.g., NSG mouse model) with patient-derived xenograft (PDX), as well as methods of making and using the same.

Disease model pigs produced by nuclear transplantation, disease model pigs exhibiting stable phenotypes and production methods thereof are provided. Chimeric pigs for producing disease model pigs exhibiting stable phenotypes, genital glands thereof, and germ cells thereof are also provided. A method for producing a genetically modified disease model pig, includes: (a) transplanting a nucleus of a genetically modified cell into cytoplasm of an egg; (b) developing an obtained clonal embryo in a womb of a female pig to obtain an offspring; and mating the obtained offspring or having the offspring undergo sexual reproduction to further obtain the genetically modified offspring as a disease model pig.