Lammert E, Cleaver O, Melton D. Role of endothelial cells in early pancreas and liver development. Mech Dev. 2003 Jan; 120(1):59-64.

Citation

Lammert E, Cleaver O, Melton D. 2003. Role of endothelial cells in early pancreas and liver development. Mechanisms of development. 120(1):59-64. Pubmed: 12490296

Abstract

Liver and pancreas initially develop by budding from the embryonic endoderm. The formation of these organs coincides with the appearance of endothelial cells (ECs) adjacent to the endoderm. ECs either develop in situ in organs, or are recruited by organs and are induced to form blood vessels. Recent reports on liver and pancreas have now shown that ECs also induce essential steps in organ formation such as morphogenesis and cell differentiation. This review summarizes reports on EC signaling during organogenesis and cell differentiation.

Related Faculty

Douglas Melton, Ph.D.

Doug Melton is pursuing a cure for type 1 diabetes. His lab studies the developmental biology of the pancreas, using that information to grow and develop pancreatic cells (islets of Langerhans). In parallel, they investigate ways to protect beta cells from autoimmune attack.