Interplay between Wnt2 and Wnt2bb controls multiple steps of early foregut-derived organ development.

ABSTRACT: The vertebrate liver, pancreas and lung arise in close proximity from the multipotent foregut endoderm. Tissue-explant experiments uncovered instructive signals emanating from the neighbouring lateral plate mesoderm, directing the endoderm towards specific organ fates. This suggested that an intricate network of signals is required to control the specification and differentiation of each organ. Here, we show that sequential functions of Wnt2bb and Wnt2 control liver specification and proliferation in zebrafish. Their combined specific activities are essential for liver specification, as their loss of function causes liver agenesis. Conversely, excess wnt2bb or wnt2 induces ectopic liver tissue at the expense of pancreatic and anterior intestinal tissues, revealing the competence of intesti

SUBMITTER: Poulain M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3143568 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature