title: Pituitary cell differentiation from stem cells and other cells: toward restorative therapy for hypopituitarism?
abstract: The pituitary gland, key regulator of our endocrine system, produces multiple hormones that steer essential physiological processes. Hence, deficient pituitary function (hypopituitarism) leads to severe disorders. Hypopituitarism can be caused by defective embryonic development, or by damage through tumor growth/resection and traumatic brain injury. Lifelong hormone replacement is needed but associated with significant side effects. It would be more desirable to restore pituitary tissue and function. Recently, we showed that the adult (mouse) pituitary holds regenerative capacity in which local stem cells are involved. Repair of deficient pituitary may therefore be achieved by activating these resident stem cells. Alternatively, pituitary dysfunction may be mended by cell (replacement) therapy. The hormonal cells to be transplanted could be obtained by (trans-)differentiating various kinds of stem cells or other cells. Here, we summarize the studies on pituitary cell regeneration and on (trans-)differentiation toward hormonal cells, and speculate on restorative therapies for pituitary deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Development & Regeneration, Cluster Stem Cell Biology and Embryology, Research Unit of Stem Cell Research, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Willems
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vankelecom
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054338:Cell Transdifferentiation; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D051379:Mice; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000502:physiology*; D012038:Regeneration; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
keywords: embryonic stem cells; hypopituitarism; in vitro differentiation; in vivo regeneration; pituitary; stem cells