Expression pattern of IAPP and prohormone convertase 1/3 reveals a distinctive set of endocrine cells in the embryonic pancreas.
The earliest endocrine cells in the developing pancreas make glucagon and are described as alpha cells. We show here that these cells express islet amyloid polypeptide and prohormone convertase 1/3 (PC1/3), proteins that are not expressed by mature alpha cells, but are found in beta cells. PC1/3 converts proglucagon to the functionally distinct hormones glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 and GLP-2 rather than glucagon. Despite these differences, the early proglucagon-positive cells express, as do mature alpha cells, the POU domain transcription factor Brn-4, and do not express the beta cell factor pdx-1. The early production of atypical peptide hormones by these cells suggests that they could play an important role locally or systemically in the development of the embryo.
Wilson
Maria E
ME
UCSF Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-0534, USA.
Kalamaras
Julie A
JA
German
Michael S
MS
D000682:Amyloid / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005934:Glucagon / Q000378:metabolism; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D058228:Islet Amyloid Polypeptide; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D050809:POU Domain Factors; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology*; D045664:Proprotein Convertase 1; D043484:Proprotein Convertases; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
D000682:Amyloid; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D007328:Insulin; D058228:Islet Amyloid Polypeptide; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D050809:POU Domain Factors; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; C084010:pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 protein; C074067:Pou3f4 protein, mouse; D005934:Glucagon; D043484:Proprotein Convertases; C473656:Pcsk1 protein, mouse; D045664:Proprotein Convertase 1; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases