Watkins-Chow D E, Camper S A
Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor 48109-0638, USA.
Trends Genet. 1998 Jul;14(7):284-90. doi: 10.1016/s0168-9525(98)01476-0.
The secrets of anterior pituitary development and cell lineage determination have been revealed mostly by genetic analyses. The requirement for three homeobox genes, Lbx3, Lbx4 and Titf1, during early organogenesis was proven by gene targeting. Spontaneous mouse mutations revealed two additional homeobox genes, Pit1 and Prop1, that are critical for specialization and proliferation of subsets of the five differentiated cell types. Analysis of patients with pituitary insufficiency has demonstrated the importance of these two genes in human pituitary function. Recently, several other homeobox genes have been identified and implicated in pituitary organogenesis. Genetic manipulations of these genes will undoubtedly add to the emerging genetic hierarchy regulating the ontogeny of this major hormone-producing gland.
垂体前叶发育和细胞谱系确定的奥秘大多已通过基因分析得以揭示。基因靶向证明了在早期器官发生过程中对三个同源框基因Lbx3、Lbx4和Titf1的需求。小鼠自发突变揭示了另外两个同源框基因Pit1和Prop1，它们对于五种分化细胞类型的亚群的特化和增殖至关重要。对垂体功能不全患者的分析表明了这两个基因在人类垂体功能中的重要性。最近，又鉴定出了其他几个同源框基因，并发现它们与垂体器官发生有关。对这些基因的遗传操作无疑将为调控这个主要激素分泌腺个体发育的新出现的遗传层级增添内容。
