An analysis of pancreatic development: role of mesenchymal factor and other extracellular factors

Entrapped collagen type 1 promotes differentiation of embryonic pancreatic precursor cells into glucose-responsive beta-cells when cultured in three-dimensional PEG hydrogels

Development of an alternative source of functional, transplantable beta-cells to replace or supplement cadaveric tissue is critical to the future success of islet cell transplantation therapy. Embryonic pancreatic precursor cells are desirable as a renewable source of beta-cells as they are both proliferative and inherently capable of pancreatic cell differentiation. We have previously shown that precursor cells undergo selective beta-cell differentiation when dissociated and photoencapsulated in a polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel network; however, these cells remained immature and were not glucose responsive. Collagen type 1 supports mature cell viability and function in many cell types and we hypothesized that incorporating it within our gels may support differentiating beta-cells and facilitate beta-cell maturation. For these studies, collagen-1 was entrapped with dissociated pancreatic precursor cells in a PEG hydrogel matrix (PEGCol) with the following key findings: (1) mature, glucose-responsive, islet-like structures differentiated from spontaneously forming precursor cell clusters in PEGCol, but not unmodified PEG, hydrogels; (2) a balance existed between providing sufficient collagen-1 signaling to support precursor cell development and providing an overabundance of adhesive sites allowing contaminating mesenchymal cells to thrive' and (3) mechanical stability provided by the PEG hydrogel platform is important for successful precursor cell culture, as PEGCol hydrogels encourage glucose responsiveness and high-insulin gene expression, while pure collagen gel cultures, with the same collagen concentration, have negligible insulin gene expression. These results indicate that PEGCol hydrogels are a useful culture platform to promote differentiation of a glucose-responsive beta-cell population from dissociated precursor cells.

TGF-beta isoform signaling regulates secondary transition and mesenchymal-induced endocrine development in the embryonic mouse pancreas

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily signaling has been implicated in many developmental processes, including pancreatic development. Previous studies are conflicting with regard to an exact role for TGF-beta signaling in various aspects of pancreatic organogenesis. Here we have investigated the role of TGF-beta isoform signaling in embryonic pancreas differentiation and lineage selection. The TGF-beta isoform receptors (RI, RII and ALK1) were localized mainly to both the pancreatic epithelium and mesenchyme at early stages of development, but then with increasing age localized to the pancreatic islets and ducts. To determine the specific role of TGF-beta isoforms, we functionally inactivated TGF-beta signaling at different points in the signaling cascade. Disruption of TGF-beta signaling at the receptor level using mice overexpressing the dominant-negative TGF-beta type II receptor showed an increase in endocrine precursors and proliferating endocrine cells, with an abnormal accumulation of endocrine cells around the developing ducts of mid-late stage embryonic pancreas. This pattern suggested that TGF-beta isoform signaling may suppress the origination of secondary transition endocrine cells from the ducts. Secondly, TGF-beta isoform ligand inhibition with neutralizing antibody in pancreatic organ culture also led to an increase in the number of endocrine-positive cells. Thirdly, hybrid mix-and-match in vitro recombinations of transgenic pancreatic mesenchyme and wild-type epithelium also led to increased endocrine cell differentiation, but with different patterns depending on the directionality of the epithelial-mesenchymal signaling. Together these results suggest that TGF-beta signaling is important for restraining the growth and differentiation of pancreatic epithelial cells, particularly away from the endocrine lineage. Inhibition of TGF-beta signaling in the embryonic period may thus allow pancreatic epithelial cells to progress towards the endocrine lineage unchecked, particularly as part of the secondary transition of pancreatic endocrine cell development. TGF-beta RII in the ducts and islets may normally serve to downregulate the production of beta cells from embryonic ducts.

Leptin mediates the parathyroid hormone-related protein paracrine stimulation of fetal lung maturation

Developing rat lung lipofibroblasts express leptin beginning on embryonic day (E) 17, increasing 7- to 10-fold by E20. Leptin and its receptor are expressed mutually exclusively by fetal lung fibroblasts and type II cells, suggesting a paracrine signaling "loop." This hypothesized mechanism is supported by the following experimental data: 1) leptin stimulates the de novo synthesis of surfactant phospholipid by both fetal rat type II cells (400% x 100 ng(-1) x ml(-1) x 24 h(-1)) and adult human airway epithelial cells (85% x 100 ng(-1) x 24 h(-1)); 2) leptin is secreted by lipofibroblasts in amounts that stimulate type II cell surfactant phospholipid synthesis in vitro; 3) epithelial cell secretions such as parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), PGE(2), and dexamethasone stimulate leptin expression by fetal rat lung fibroblasts; 4) PTHrP or leptin stimulate the de novo synthesis of surfactant phospholipid (2- to 2.5-fold/24 h) and the expression of surfactant protein B (SP-B; >25-fold/24 h) by fetal rat lung explants, an effect that is blocked by a leptin antibody; and 5) a PTHrP receptor antagonist inhibits the expression of leptin mRNA by explants but does not inhibit leptin stimulation of surfactant phospholipid or SP-B expression, indicating that PTHrP paracrine stimulation of type II cell maturation requires leptin expression by lipofibroblasts. This is the first demonstration of a paracrine loop that functionally cooperates to induce alveolar acinar lung development.

The effect of retinoic acid on the proportion of insulin cells in the developing chick pancreas

We assessed the potential role of all-trans-retinoic acid on the developing chick pancreas, specifically with regard to the proportions of insulin cells. The endodermal component of the dorsal pancreatic bud of 5-d-old chick embryos was cultured on Matrigel. Retinoic acid (10(-6) or 10(-5) M) was added to a standard serum-free medium, Ham's F12 containing insulin, transferrin and selenium (F12.ITS). Control grafts were cultured in F12.ITS alone or in F12.ITS with DMSO (the diluent for retinoic acid). After 7 d the explants were retrieved, freeze-dried, vapor-fixed, and embedded in resin. Endocrine cell types were identified by immunocytochemistry. The numbers of insulin cells were expressed as a proportion of the sum of insulin plus glucagon cells. Retinoic acid had a dose-related effect; the proportion of insulin cells in explants treated with the lower dose of retinoic acid (10(-6) M) was more than twice the proportion of insulin cells in explants treated with the higher dose (10(-5) M) of retinoic acid and more than three times that of the control grafts.

On the development of the islets of Langerhans

Studies of pancreatic development have suggested that the islet cells develop through multihormonal stages. Abundant data have confirmed that multihormonal cells are common during pancreatic development. A number of transcription factors and homeotic proteins have also been found to be important to pancreatic and islet cell development. While one of these factors (Isl1) is important for the development of the dorsal pancreatic bud and mesenchyme, another factor (Pdx1) is needed for growth and branching of both pancreatic buds. Studies of the expression patterns of pancreatic hormones and transcription factors and other marker proteins seem at present to be most compatible with the view that early glucagon and glucagon + insulin expressing cells are precursors to the glucagon cells of the islets while mature B cells arise through differentiation from glucagon-negative precursor cells. Recent data also point to possibilities of local paracrine interactions between islet cell types and the parenchymal tissue during development.

Hlx homeo box gene is essential for an inductive tissue interaction that drives expansion of embryonic liver and gut

The divergent murine homeo box gene Hlx is expressed in restricted hematopoietic cell types and, during embryogenesis, prominently in visceral mesenchyme of the developing liver, gall bladder, and gut. Targeted disruption of the gene has now established that it plays a key role in visceral organogenesis. Embryos homozygous for the mutation died around embryonic day 15 with anemia and severe hypoplasia of the liver and gut. Liver ontogeny commenced normally with formation of the liver diverticulum and differentiation of hepatocytes, but the organ failed to expand and reached only 3% of normal size. The apparent liver hypoplasia was not associated with a notable increase in apoptotic cells. Gut development also began normally, but the intestines failed to undergo extensive elongation and looping and reached only a quarter of normal length. The anemia resulted from a deficiency in the fetal form of hematopoiesis, which occurs in the liver, but no intrinsic defect in Hlx-/- hematopoietic cells was observed in vitro, and liver-derived Hlx-/- hematopoietic stem cells that were transplanted to irradiated normal mice could fully reconstitute hematopoiesis. The impaired fetal hematopoiesis therefore reflects insufficient support function provided by the minute liver. Hlx is normally expressed in visceral mesenchyme lying adjacent to the developing liver and gut epithelia affected by the mutation, but not in the epithelia themselves. Hence, Hlx regulates a mesenchymal-epithelial interaction that drives a vital growth phase in visceral organogenesis. Moreover, because mutation of Hlx blocked liver growth but not its specification, early morphogenesis, or differentiation, development of this organ appears to occur by step-wise inductive interactions under separate genetic control.

Characterization of integrin chains in normal and neoplastic human pancreas

Integrins are a complex family of non-covalently linked heterodimeric glycoproteins which function as cell adhesion molecules, interacting with extracellular matrix molecules such as laminin, fibronectin, vitronectin, and collagen, and also having a role in intercellular adhesion. Each integrin subfamily is characterized by a common beta chain associated with variable alpha chains. We have examined, using immunohistological methods, the expression of the VLA (very late activation) family comprising beta 1 in association with alpha 1-6, and also alpha 6 in association with beta 4, the LFA beta chain beta 2, and the vitronectin receptor, in association with beta 1 or beta 5 and as the complex alpha v beta 3. Cryostat sections of normal pancreas, pancreatic adenocarcinomas, and ampullary tumours were studied together with six pancreatic carcinoma cell lines. Normal pancreas showed expression of beta 1 in all parenchyma. alpha 2 and alpha 6 had a similar distribution whereas alpha 3 expression was confined to ducts, including the very smallest radicles. Staining along the basement membranes of ducts was seen with beta 4 and the anti-vitronectin alpha v chain receptor antibody 13C2. Islet cells failed to stain with any antibody. No staining of epithelial components was seen with antibodies to alpha 1, alpha 4, alpha 5, or to the alpha v beta 3 form of the vitronectin receptor (beta 3 and alpha v beta 3 using the antibody 23C6). Pancreatic adenocarcinomas and ampullary tumours showed expression of alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 6, beta 1, beta 4, and the vitronectin receptor (alpha v associated with beta 1 or beta 5).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)