Table 2.
Role of different transcriptional factors in pancreatic endocrine cell development.
| Stage | Transcriptional Factors | Function |
|---|---|---|
| DE | SRY-related HMG-box 17 | Regulation of embryonic development |
| Forkheadbox A2 (HNF-3β) | Endodermal marker, differentiation of pancreas | |
| C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 | Chemokine signals in early pancreatic differentiation | |
| Cerberus | Endodermal marker, differentiation of pancreas | |
| Transcription factor GATA-4 | Regulates the development of endoderm-derived organs | |
| Brachyury protein | Brachyury is an important factor in promoting theepithelial-mesenchymal transition | |
| Orthodenticle homeobox 2 | Influences proliferation and differentiation | |
| Homeobox protein goosecoid | Cell-fate specification | |
| Receptor tyrosine kinase | Involved in intracellular signaling | |
| Mix paired-like homeobox | Plays a role in proper axial mesendoderm morphogenesis and endoderm formation | |
| Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 α | Controls the expression of the FOXA2 and SOX17 genes | |
| PGT | Pancreatic and duodenal homeobox | Early pancreatic development, α- and β-cell, and exocrine tissue genesis, important activator of insulin |
| Transcription factor SOX-9 | Regulates epithelial progenitor expansion and endocrine differentiation | |
| Hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 homeobox B | Plays a crucial role in early development | |
| PE | NK6 TF related locus 6 | Final differentiation of β-cells |
| Homeobox protein CDX-2 | Tumor suppressor in pancreas | |
| Sex determining region Y | Essential for maintaining self-renewal and pluripotency | |
| Motor neuron and pancreas homeobox 1 | Regulation of β-cell development | |
| PPs | NK2 TF related locus 2 | Pancreatic endocrine development and differentiation into pancreatic β-cells |
| Neurogenin 3 | Formation of pancreatic endocrine precursors, differentiation of pancreatic precursor cells towards endocrine lineage | |
| Neurogenic differentiation | Differentiation and islet growth, endocrine differentiation in pancreatic progenitors | |
| Paired box gene 6 | Formation of α-cells, activates glucagon transcription | |
| Paired box gene 4 | Formation of β-cells and δ-cells, repress glucagon transcription | |
| Hepatocyte nuclear factor 6 | Essential for endocrine differentiation | |
| Islet 1 | Early endocrine cell differentiation | |
| Pancreas associated transcription factor 1 | Stage-specific roles during pancreatic organogenesis | |
| EPs | Avian musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene family A | Formation of α- and β-cells, activates genes involved on mature endocrine functions like glucose sensing, vesicle maturation, calcium signaling, and insulin secretion |
| Avian musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene family B | Controls and activates insulin gene expression | |
| Chromogranin A | Maintains islet volume, cellular composition, and function | |
| Insulin | Pancreatic β-cell maturation | |
| Glucagon | Produced by pancreatic α -cells, leads to increased gluconeogenesis | |
| Somatostatin | Regulates the endocrine system | |
| Ghrelin | Regulates homeostasis | |
| Pancreatic polypeptide | Metabolic homeostasis |