Abstract: This invention relates to the use of Pax4 stimulating compounds, e.g. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) inhibitors, particularly in combination with immunomodulating agents, in the prevention, and/or treatment of pancreatic autoimmune disorders, e.g. type I diabetes or LADA. More particularly, this invention relates to the use of compounds selected from paullones, indirubines, substituted ureas, maleimide derivatives and pyrimidine thiones. Further, the present invention relates to a method of identifying and/or characterizing pancreatic beta-cell mitogens by using cells expressing a pancreatic gene or a gene whose function is controlled by a pancreatic gene, particularly the Pax4 gene, and which are transfected with a reporter gene.