During pancreas development the HH-signaling modulations plays an essential role, its inactivation being absolutely required for pancreas organogenesis, even slight ectopic activation compromising this process. Moreover, the pathway also plays a role in adult pancreas regeneration, its inactivation promoting regenerative cell conversion events (Cigliola*, Ghila*, Thorel* et al., 2018). The HH-signaling cascade is complex and is mediated by the combinatorial activity of the GLI members (GLI1, GLI2, GLI3).Interestingly, the emergence and increase of HNF1A expression during guided differentiation, coincide to a period in which the Hedgehog signaling pathway (HH-signaling) is actively inhibited using antagonists of Smoothened (SMO) receptor, a key component of the signaling.
Here, Lucas performed several pilot experiments aimed at investigating the HNF1A-HH-signaling relationship by changing the GLI code during early differentiation and assessing HNF1A acquisition in differentiating cells. Our pilot study indicated a potential link between the two processes, which deserves a further and more comprehensive investigation.
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The GLI code controls HNF1A levels during foregut differentiation
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The International Journal of Developmental Biology 2024 (in press) 52: 220-220
DOI information: 10.1387/ijdb.230220lg