In pancreatic development, Pdx1 is expressed by a population of cells in the posteriorforegut region of the definitive endoderm, and Pdx1+epithelial cells give rise to the developing pancreatic buds, and eventually, the whole of the pancreas—its exocrine, endocrine, and ductal cell populations. Pancreatic Pdx1+ cells first arise at mouse embryonic day 8.5-9.0, and Pdx1 expression continues until E12.0-E12.5. Homozygous Pdx1knockout mice form pancreatic buds but fail to develop a pancreas, and transgenic mice in which tetracycline application results in death of Pdx1+ cells are almost completely apancreatic if doxycycline is administered throughout the pregnancy of these transgenic mice, illustrating the necessity of Pdx1+ cells in pancreatic development. Pdx1 is accepted as the earliest marker for pancreatic differentiation, with the fates of pancreatic cells controlled by downstream transcription factors. The initial pancreatic bud is composed of Pdx1+ pancreatic progenitor cells that co-express Hlxb9, Hnf6, Ptf1a and NKX6-1. These cells further proliferate and branch in response to FGF-10 signaling. Afterwards, fating of the pancreatic cells begins; a population of cells has Notch signaling inhibited, and subsequently, expresses Ngn3. This Ngn3+ population is a transient population of pancreatic endocrine progenitors that gives rise to the α, β, Δ, PP, and ε cells of the islets of Langerhans. Other cells will give rise to the exocrine and ductal pancreatic cell populations.
β-cell maturation and survival
The final stages of pancreas development involves the production of different endocrine cells, including insulin-producing β-cells and glucagon-producing α-cells. Pdx1 is necessary for β-cells maturation: developing β-cells co-express Pdx1, NKX6-1, and insulin, a process that results in the silencing of MafB and the expression of MafA, a necessary switch in maturation of β-cells. At this stage of pancreas development, the experimental decrease in the expression of Pdx1 results in a production of a smaller number of β-cells and an associated increase in the number of α-cells. In the mature pancreas, Pdx1 expression seems to be required for the maintenance and survival of β-cells. For instance, experimentally reducing the level of Pdx1 expression at this stage makes β-cells produce higher amounts of glucagon, suggesting that Pdx1 inhibits the conversion of β-cells into α-cells. Furthermore, Pdx1 appears to be important in mediating the effect of insulin on the apoptotic programmed cell death of β-cells: a small concentration of insulin protects β-cells from apoptosis, but not in cells where Pdx1 expression has been inhibited.
Duodenum
Pdx1 is necessary for the development of the proximal duodenum and maintenance of the gastro-duodenal junction. Duodenal enterocytes, Brunner's glands and entero-endocrine cells are dependent on Pdx1 expression. It is a ParaHox gene, which together with Sox2 and Cdx2, determines the correct cellular differentiation in the proximal gut. In mature mice duodenum, several genes have been identified which are dependent on Pdx1 expression and include some affecting lipid and iron absorption.
