Johansson Jenny K, Voss Ulrikke, Kesavan Gokul, Kostetskii Igor, Wierup Nils, Radice Glenn L, Semb Henrik
Stem Cell Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Sweden.
Genesis. 2010 Jun;48(6):374-81. doi: 10.1002/dvg.20628.
The cadherin family of cell adhesion molecules mediates adhesive interactions that are required for the formation and maintenance of tissues. Previously, we demonstrated that N-cadherin, which is required for numerous morphogenetic processes, is expressed in the pancreatic epithelium at E9.5, but later becomes restricted to endocrine aggregates in mice. To study the role of N-cadherin during pancreas formation and function we generated a tissue-specific knockout of N-cadherin in the early pancreatic epithelium by inter-crossing N-cadherin-floxed mice with Pdx1Cre mice. Analysis of pancreas-specific ablation of N-cadherin demonstrates that N-cadherin is dispensable for pancreatic development, but required for beta-cell granule turnover. The number of insulin secretory granules is significantly reduced in N-cadherin-deficient beta-cells, and as a consequence insulin secretion is decreased.
细胞黏附分子的钙黏蛋白家族介导了组织形成和维持所需的黏附相互作用。此前，我们证明，N-钙黏蛋白在众多形态发生过程中发挥作用，在E9.5时在胰腺上皮中表达，但在小鼠中随后局限于内分泌聚集体。为了研究N-钙黏蛋白在胰腺形成和功能中的作用，我们通过将N-钙黏蛋白条件性敲除小鼠与Pdx1Cre小鼠杂交，在早期胰腺上皮中产生了N-钙黏蛋白的组织特异性敲除。对N-钙黏蛋白胰腺特异性缺失的分析表明，N-钙黏蛋白对胰腺发育并非必需，但对β细胞颗粒更新是必需的。在缺乏N-钙黏蛋白的β细胞中，胰岛素分泌颗粒的数量显著减少，因此胰岛素分泌减少。
