Project at a glance

We study the mechanisms of cell fate allocation and specification for the different pancreatic cell types, both during ontogeny and during pancreas regeneration in the diabetic adult.

In particular, we are interested in understanding the origin of insulin-producing beta-cells. These studies are performed through the generation of different strains of transgenic mice. There are three main areas of research.

1. Determination of cell fates
2. Establishment of islet cell lineages
3. Differentiation / regeneration potential of adult pancreatic cells

The cell lineages of the islets of Langerhans are studied in mice bearing simultaneously several transgenes. Using the Cre / loxP system we tag endocrine progenitor cells in vivo, either in embryos or adults. We can irreversibly mark precursor or hormone-producing cells through site-specific recombination mediated by Cre recombinase. Reporter gene expression is therefore dependent upon Cre activity in particular cell types.

Cell fate decisions in early pancreatic primordia are taken through cell autonomous and cell non-autonomous signals. We analyze the role of different effectors of signaling pathways in different conditional transgenic mice.

The regeneration potential of adult pancreata is studied with different approaches. New transgenic mice in which specific pancreatic cell types can be conditionally ablated are used to analyze the process of beta-cell neo-formation after injury, so as to determine the extent and mechanisms of beta-cell regeneration in the adult pancreas.

We have recently reported that an extreme beta-cell loss in adult mice is followed by a process of spontaneous beta-cell regeneration, which mostly relies on the conversion of adult glucagon-producing alpha-cells into insulin-producers. We have also observed that a very limited number of alpha-cells is sufficient to prevent any major metabolic deregulation in basal conditions in adult mice.