Molecular mechanisms of pituitary organogenesis: In search of novel regulatory genes
- 8 July 2010
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Elsevier BV in Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology
- Vol. 323 (1), 4-19
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2009.12.012
Abstract
Defects in pituitary gland organogenesis are sometimes associated with congenital anomalies that affect head development. Lesions in transcription factors and signaling pathways explain some of these developmental syndromes. Basic research studies, including the characterization of genetically engineered mice, provide a mechanistic framework for understanding how mutations create the clinical characteristics observed in patients. Defects in BMP, WNT, Notch, and FGF signaling pathways affect induction and growth of the pituitary primordium and other organ systems partly by altering the balance between signaling pathways. The PITX and LHX transcription factor families influence pituitary and head development and are clinically relevant. A few later-acting transcription factors have pituitary-specific effects, including PROP1, POU1F1 (PIT1), and TPIT (TBX19), while others, such as NeuroD1 and NR5A1 (SF1), are syndromic, influencing development of other endocrine organs. We conducted a survey of genes transcribed in developing mouse pituitary to find candidates for cases of pituitary hormone deficiency of unknown etiology. We identified numerous transcription factors that are members of gene families with roles in syndromic or non-syndromic pituitary hormone deficiency. This collection is a rich source for future basic and clinical studies.Keywords
This publication has 211 references indexed in Scilit:
- Discovery of transcriptional regulators and signaling pathways in the developing pituitary gland by bioinformatic and genomic approachesGenomics, 2009
- Ascl1 and Neurog2 form novel complexes and regulate Delta-like3 (Dll3) expression in the neural tubeDevelopmental Biology, 2009
- NeuroD1 and Mash1 temporally regulate GnRH receptor gene expression in immortalized mouse gonadotrope cellsMolecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 2008
- Premature differentiation and aberrant movement of pituitary cells lacking both Hes1 and Prop1Developmental Biology, 2008
- Pitx2 deletion in pituitary gonadotropes is compatible with gonadal development, puberty, and fertilitygenesis, 2008
- Single-stranded DNA-binding proteins regulate the abundance and function of the LIM-homeodomain transcription factor LHX2 in pituitary cellsBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2008
- WNT signaling affects gene expression in the ventral diencephalon and pituitary gland growthDevelopmental Dynamics, 2008
- Comparative genomics reveals functional transcriptional control sequences in the Prop1 geneMammalian Genome, 2007
- Hes1 is required for pituitary growth and melanotrope specificationDevelopmental Biology, 2007
- Roles of the LHX3 and LHX4 LIM-homeodomain factors in pituitary developmentMolecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 2007