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 and a NeuroD/BETA2 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 -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.
