Pancreas-specific deletion of mouse Gata4 and Gata6 causes pancreatic agenesis

Shouhong Xuan, Matthew J. Borok, Kimberly J. Decker, Michele A. Battle, Stephen A. Duncan, Michael A. Hale, Raymond J. Macdonald, Lori Sussel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

121 Scopus citations

Abstract

Pancreatic agenesis is a human disorder caused by defects in pancreas development. To date, only a few genes have been linked to pancreatic agenesis in humans, with mutations in pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX1) and pancreas-specific transcription factor 1a (PTF1A) reported in only 5 families with described cases. Recently, mutations in GATA6 have been identified in a large percentage of human cases, and a GATA4 mutant allele has been implicated in a single case. In the mouse, Gata4 and Gata6 are expressed in several endoderm-derived tissues, including the pancreas. To analyze the functions of GATA4 and/or GATA6 during mouse pancreatic development, we generated pancreas-specific deletions of Gata4 and Gata6. Surprisingly, loss of either Gata4 or Gata6 in the pancreas resulted in only mild pancreatic defects, which resolved postnatally. However, simultaneous deletion of both Gata4 and Gata6 in the pancreas caused severe pancreatic agenesis due to disruption of pancreatic progenitor cell proliferation, defects in branching morphogenesis, and a subsequent failure to induce the differentiation of progenitor cells expressing carboxypeptidase A1 (CPA1) and neurogenin 3 (NEUROG3). These studies address the conserved and nonconserved mechanisms underlying GATA4 and GATA6 function during pancreas development and provide a new mouse model to characterize the underlying developmental defects associated with pancreatic agenesis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3516-3528
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation
Volume122
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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