Crucial Role of PDX-1 in Pancreas Development, β-Cell Differentiation, and Induction of Surrogate β-Cells

Title: Crucial Role of PDX-1 in Pancreas Development, β-Cell Differentiation, and Induction of Surrogate β-Cells

Volume: 14 Issue: 16

Author(s): Hideaki Kaneto, Takeshi Miyatsuka, Toshihiko Shiraiwa, Kaoru Yamamoto, Ken Kato, Yoshio Fujitani and Taka-aki Matsuoka

Affiliation:

Keywords: PDX-1, MafA, transcription factor, pancreas development, β-cell differentiation, surrogate β-cells

Abstract: Pancreatic and duodenal homeobox factor-1 (PDX-1) plays a crucial role in pancreas development, β-cell differentiation, and maintaining mature β-cell function. At an early stage of embryonic development, PDX-1 is initially expressed in the gut region when the foregut endoderm becomes committed to common pancreatic precursor cells. During pancreas development, PDX-1 expression is maintained in precursor cells, and later it becomes restricted to β-cells. In mature β-cells, PDX-1 transactivates the insulin gene and other genes involved in glucose sensing and metabolism, such as GLUT2 and glucokinase. MafA is a recently isolated β-cell-specific transcription factor which functions as a potent activator of insulin gene transcription. During pancreas development, MafA expression is first detected at the beginning of the principal phase of insulinproducing cell production. Furthermore, these transcription factors play a crucial role in inducing surrogate β-cells from non-β- cells and thus could be therapeutic targets for diabetes.

Cite this article as:

Hideaki Kaneto , Takeshi Miyatsuka , Toshihiko Shiraiwa , Kaoru Yamamoto , Ken Kato , Yoshio Fujitani and Taka-aki Matsuoka , Crucial Role of PDX-1 in Pancreas Development, β-Cell Differentiation, and Induction of Surrogate β-Cells, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2007; 14 (16) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986707781058887