Molecular signaling pathways

Differentiation of early foregut endoderm into pancreatic endocrine and exocrine cells depends on a cascade of gene activation events controlled by various transcription factors.

The forkhead/winged helix transcription factor FOXA2 (formerly HNF-3beta) is a major upstream regulator of IPF1 (human homolog of murine Pdx1), a homeobox gene essential for pancreatic development.

IPF1 is also essential for the maintenance of glucose homeostasis.

Pathology

 anomalies of pancreatic organogenesis (pancreatic dysplasia)

Features

 FOXA2/IPF1 regulatory cascade during pancreatic beta-cell differentiation

References

 Edlund H. Pancreatic organogenesis--developmental mechanisms and implications for therapy. Nat Rev Genet. 2002 Jul;3(7):524-32. PMID: #12094230#