KEY MOLECULAR GENETIC REGULATORS OF PANCREATIC ENDOCRINOCYTE DIFFERENTIATION

Abstract

The aim of this study - to review the literature data regarding the group of the mostpopular and active genes involved in the endocrine pancreas development.Conclusions. The transcription factors and markers, determining cells types, activelyoperate in the pancreas during embryogenesis. Among key differentiation-related genesare endocrine pancreas master regulator Neurogenin-3 (Ngn3), alpha cell-specificgenes - Рах 6, Arx, Maf-B, Nkx-2.2, Nkx-6.2; beta cell specific transcription factors -Pax 4, Maf-A, Maf-B, Nkx-6.1, Nkx-2.2, PDX-1; delta cells - Pax-6, Pax-4; progenitorcell marker C-kit.Regulatory proteins encoded by these genes control mechanisms ofendocrinocyte differentiation, which are active not only during embryogenesis, but alsocontinue to induce endocrine cell formation during adult life, including those influencedby exogenous and endogenous factors, when new islets are generated from ductal cells.Each of the above-mentioned genes is functionally important at different stages ofdetermination and differentiation of pancreatic cells, and mutation at least in one ofthese genes could cause severe disorders in the development and functioning of theorgan. Genes, taken into consideration, play an important role not only in the period ofpancreas embryonic development, but also essential for the normal functioning of betacells throughout life, since various pathological conditions are associated with mutationsin these genes. Processes such as hypoxia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus could influencethe level of gene expression during progenitor cell differentiation, thus determining theendocrinocyte population density in the pancreas over time through the commitment ofprogenitor cells that maintain basal homeostasis.