title: Wnt7b is required for epithelial progenitor growth and operates during epithelial-to-mesenchymal signaling in pancreatic development.
abstract: Wnt signaling is a well conserved pathway critical for growth, patterning and differentiation of multiple tissues and organs. Previous studies on Wnt signaling in the pancreas have been based predominantly on downstream pathway effector genes such as β-catenin. We here provide evidence that the canonical-pathway member Wnt7b is a physiological regulator of pancreatic progenitor cell growth. Genetic deletion of Wnt7b in the developing pancreas leads to pancreatic hypoplasia due to reduced proliferation of pancreatic progenitor cells during the phase of pancreas development marked by rapid progenitor cell growth. While the differentiation potential of pancreatic progenitor cells is unaffected by Wnt7b deletion, through a gain-of-function analysis, we find that early pancreatic progenitor cells are highly sensitive to Wnt7b expression, but later lose such competence. By modulating the level and the temporal windows of Wnt7b expression we demonstrate a significant impact on organ growth and morphogenesis particularly during the early branching stages of the organ, which negatively affects generation of the pro-endocrine (Ngn3(+)/Nkx6.1(+)), and pro-acinar (Ptf1A(+)) fields. Consequently, Wnt7b gain-of-function results in failed morphogenesis and almost complete abrogation of the differentiation of endocrine and acinar cells, leading to cystic epithelial metaplasia expressing ductal markers including Sox9, Hnf6 and Hnf1β. While Wnt7b is expressed exclusively in the developing pancreatic epithelium, adjacent mesenchymal cells in the organ display a direct trophic response to elevated Wnt7b and increase expression of Lef1, cFos and desmin. Of note, in contrast to the pancreatic epithelium, the pancreatic mesenchyme remains competent to respond to Wnt7b ligand, at later stages in development. We conclude that Wnt7b helps coordinate pancreatic development through autocrine, as well as paracrine mechanisms, and as such represents a novel bi-modal morphogen ligand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, NE3-251, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, United States. Electronic address: afeliks@ccf.org.
authors.forename: Solomon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Afelik
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, NE3-251, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, United States.
authors.forename: Brandon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pool
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, NE3-251, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, United States.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmerr
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, NE3-251, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, United States.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Penton
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, NE3-251, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, United States. Electronic address: jensenj2@ccf.org.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002923:Cilia / Q000737:chemistry; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000502:physiology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009929:Organ Size; D010179:Pancreas / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D014404:Tubulin / Q000032:analysis; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D014404:Tubulin; D051153:Wnt Proteins; C095937:Wnt7b protein, mouse
keywords: Cell fate; Morphogenesis; Pancreas; Progenitor growth; Wnt