title: Pancreatic-hepatic switches in vivo.
abstract: The existence of a common endodermal progenitor cell to both pancreas and liver is suggested by anatomy of the development of pancreatic and liver buds in embryogenesis. Here we review the large body of evidence that pancreas to liver and liver to pancreas cell differentiation can also occur in adult life. The published data are consistent with the hypothesis that endodermal progenitor cells, capable of giving rise to multiple hepatic and pancreatic cell types continue to persist. These cells may represent a stem cell reservoir with potential in cell therapy applications in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics L103, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97201, USA. grompen@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grompe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D003300:Copper / Q000172:deficiency; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006867:Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: C496454:Fgf7 protein, mouse; C496455:Fgf7 protein, rat; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D003300:Copper; D006867:Hydrolases; C020156:fumarylacetoacetase