A specialized niche in the pancreatic microenvironment promotes endocrine differentiation

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Item Type:	Article
Title:	A specialized niche in the pancreatic microenvironment promotes endocrine differentiation
Creators Name:	Cozzitorto, C., Mueller, L., Ruzittu, S., Mah, N., Willnow, D., Darrigrand, J.F., Wilson, H., Khosravinia, D., Mahmoud, A.A., Risolino, M., Selleri, L. and Spagnoli, F.M.
Abstract:	The interplay between pancreatic epithelium and the surrounding microenvironment is pivotal for pancreas formation and differentiation as well as adult organ homeostasis. The mesenchyme is the main component of the embryonic pancreatic microenvironment, yet its cellular identity is broadly defined, and whether it comprises functionally distinct cell subsets is not known. Using genetic lineage tracing, transcriptome, and functional studies, we identified mesenchymal populations with different roles during pancreatic development. Moreover, we showed that Pbx transcription factors act within the mouse pancreatic mesenchyme to define a pro-endocrine specialized niche. Pbx directs differentiation of endocrine progenitors into insulin- and glucagon-positive cells through non-cell-autonomous regulation of ECM-integrin interactions and soluble molecules. Next, we measured functional conservation between mouse and human pancreatic mesenchyme by testing identified mesenchymal factors in an iPSC-based differentiation model. Our findings provide insights into how lineage-specific crosstalk between epithelium and neighboring mesenchymal cells underpin the generation of different pancreatic cell types.
Keywords:	Pancreatic Mesenchyme, Endocrine Differentiation, iPSC, Lineage Tracing, Pancreas, PBX, SLIT, ECM-Integrin, Animals, Mice
Source:	Developmental Cell
ISSN:	1534-5807
Publisher:	Cell Press
Volume:	55
Number:	2
Page Range:	150-162
Date:	26 October 2020
Additional Information:	Crown Copyright © 2020 Published by Elsevier Inc.
Official Publication:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.devcel.2020.08.003
External Fulltext:	View full text on PubMed Central
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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