Wnt Pathway in Pancreatic Development and Pathophysiology

The pancreas is an abdominal gland that serves 2 vital purposes: assist food processing by secreting digestive enzymes and regulate blood glucose levels by releasing endocrine hormones. During embryonic development, this gland originates from epithelial buds located on opposite sites of the foregut endoderm. Pancreatic cell specification and maturation are coordinated by a complex interplay of extrinsic and intrinsic signaling events. In the recent years, the canonical Wnt/beta-catenin pathway has emerged as an important player of pancreas organogenesis, regulating pancreatic epithelium specification, compartmentalization and expansion. Importantly, it has been suggested to regulate proliferation, survival and function of adult pancreatic cells, including insulin-secreting beta-cells. This review summarizes recent work on the role of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in pancreas biology from early development to adulthood, emphasizing on its relevance for the development of new therapies for pancreatic diseases.

Automated summary

The pancreas plays two vital roles in the human body: assisting in food digestion through the secretion of digestive enzymes and regulating blood glucose levels through the release of endocrine hormones. Recent research has shown that the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway is instrumental in the development and function of the pancreas, from embryonic development to adulthood. Understanding the role of this pathway is crucial for the development of new therapies for pancreatic diseases.