Maureen Gannon

TL;DR: Rec recombination-based lineage tracing in vivo is used to show that PTF1a is expressed at these early stages in the progenitors of pancreatic ducts, exocrine and endocrine cells, rather than being an exocrine-specific gene as previously described.

TL;DR: A Perk knockout mutation is described in mice, which exhibits skeletal dysplasias at birth and postnatal growth retardation, and skeletal and pancreatic defects are associated with defects in the rough endoplasmic reticulum of the major secretory cells of the skeletal system and pancreas.

TL;DR: The genetic data indicate that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A is a major regulator of islet vascularization and revascularization of transplanted islets and that the microvasculature plays an integral role in islet function.

TL;DR: It is indicated that a modest reduction in PDX-1 impairs several events in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (such as NAD(P)H generation, mitochondrial function, and/or mobilization of intracellular Ca2+) and that PDx-1 is important for normal function of adult pancreatic islets.

TL;DR: This review addresses many of the transcription factors and signaling pathways that play a role in early pancreatic development and endocrine cell differentiation, conditions that influencebeta-cell mass development and molecular regulators of beta-cell proliferation and apoptosis that are responsible for maintaining and expanding beta- cell mass.