The IRI release from insulin gene-transduced hepatic cells responds to ambient glucose concentration

Insulin gene was induced into differentiated hepatic cell line. These cells released immunoreactive insulin (IRI) of which molecular weight was greater than mature insulin. The secretion of IRI was responsive to glucose concentration and inhibited by glucose metabolism antagonist, 2-deoxy glucose (2-DOG). The mRNA of GLUT2 and glucokinase (GK) were not detected in these cells by Northern blotting. The glucose metabolism process is supposed to play an important role in the glucose responsive IRI release. It is assumed that hepatic cells have metabolic "glucose sensor", and insulin gene transduction to hepatic cells can be a physiological way of gene therapy for IDDM.