The present invention provides methods for inducing insulin gene expression
in cultured pancreas cells, the method comprising contacting a culture of
endocrine pancreas cells expressing a PDX-1 gene with a GLP-1 receptor
agonist, wherein the cells have been cultured under conditions such that
the cells are in contact with other cells in the culture, thereby inducing
insulin gene expression in the cells. The invention also provides high
throughput screening methods for modulators of .beta.-cell function,
stable cultures of cells made by the methods of the invention, and methods
of treating a human subject using the methods of the invention.
