A method of ex-vivo increasing insulin content in progenitor cells which express Zinc Finger E-Box Binding Homeobox 1 (ZEB-1) is disclosed. The method comprises contacting the progenitor cells with an inhibitory agent directed against a polypeptide, wherein the RNA transcript encoding said polypeptide is targeted by miRNA-200c, said polypeptide being selected from the group consisting of ZEB-1, SOX-2 and SOX-6.