Figure 2.

Cell lineages of mouse pancreatic cells and their gene expression patterns start from Pdx1+ cells. These cells gradually differentiate into exocrine, α, β and δ cells. Genes patterns colored in gray are permanently expressed in mature cell lines, while genes colored in yellow are transiently expressed. In the model of Zhou et al. (Zhou et al., 2011) cells commit through three binary cell fate decisions into various lineages. In the first branch, exocrine and endocrine lineages are committed from PdK1+ cells. Ngn3+ cells are the endocrine progenitor cell line for β/δ or the α (glucagon producing) lineages. The β/δ precursors commit to produce either β cells or δ cells in the third binary decision line. Figure redrawn with modifications from Zhou et al. (Zhou et al., 2011).