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Current Signal Transduction Therapy

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1574-3624
ISSN (Online): 2212-389X

PDX-1 and MafA as Potential Therapeutic Targets for Diabetes

Author(s): Hideaki Kaneto, Takeshi Miyatsuka and Taka-aki Matsuoka

Volume 1, Issue 3, 2006

Page: [317 - 324] Pages: 8

DOI: 10.2174/157436206778226905

Price: $65

Abstract

Pancreatic and duodenal homeobox factor-1 (PDX-1) plays a crucial role in pancreas development and β-cell differentiation, and functions as an activator of insulin gene transcription. MafA is a recently isolated β-cell-specific transcription factor which functions as a potent activator of insulin gene transcription. PDX-1 and MafA play crucial roles in inducing insulin-producing cells from non- β-cells and could be therapeutic targets for diabetes. On the other hand, expression and/or activities of PDX-1 and MafA in β-cells are reduced under diabetic conditions. Alteration of such transcription factors leads to suppression of insulin biosynthesis and secretion and thus explains, at least in part, the molecular mechanism for β-cell glucose toxicity.

Keywords: pancreas development, bHLH transcription factor, maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), insulin gene, PDX-1-VP16 fusion protein


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