title: Epidermal growth factor and gastrin on PDX1 expression in experimental type 1 diabetic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate whether combined epidermal growth factor (EGF) and gastrin can correct the hyperglycemia induced by streptozotocin (STZ) in rats and to determine the involvement of the transcription factor pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX1) in this process.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rat diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ. The mRNA and protein levels of insulin and PDX1 were determined by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Serum levels of C-peptide and insulin were analyzed using radioimmunoassay kits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The combined administration of EGF and gastrin efficiently reversed the hyperglycemia induced by STZ. Elevated insulin concentration was detected in diabetic rats treated with EGF plus gastrin. The authors also found that both insulin and PDX1 expression were reduced in STZ-treated rats. Interestingly, the combination treatment also significantly enhanced the mRNA levels of insulin and PDX1, and that of their protein products.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therapy with EGF plus gastrin corrected hyperglycemia and maintained insulin content in STZ-induced diabetic rats via up-regulation of PDX1 expression, suggesting that this combination treatment may provide a valuable approach for pancreatic islet neogenesis in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Pathology, Ministry of Education, Norman Bethune Medical College, Jilin University, Changchun, China; Luohe Medical College, Luohe, China.
authors.forename: Haiying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, First Clinical Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.
authors.forename: Zhonghua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Jilin Provincial Tumor Hospital, Changchun, China.
authors.forename: Junsheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Luohe Medical College, Luohe, China.
authors.forename: Guohua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Luohe Medical College, Luohe, China.
authors.forename: Fuqing
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Luohe Medical College, Luohe, China.
authors.forename: Fenglan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Pathology, Ministry of Education, Norman Bethune Medical College, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
authors.forename: Xiaobin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Pathology, Ministry of Education, Norman Bethune Medical College, Jilin University, Changchun, China. Electronic address: nijs@jlu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jinsong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Zoonotic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
authors.forename: Xinrui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005755:Gastrins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000662:veterinary; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000662:veterinary; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002096:C-Peptide; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005755:Gastrins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D007328:Insulin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015534:Trans-Activators; C084010:pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 protein; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor