ZFIN Image: Nissim et al., 2014, Fig. 7

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Figure Caption

Fig. 7 Model for the Role of PGE₂ Activity in Liver versus Pancreas Endoderm Specification

A model for PGE₂ regulation of endodermal specification into liver or pancreas progenitors. Bipotential endodermal cells capable of both a liver and an exocrine pancreas fate (red/blue cells) have been found between somites 1 and 3. Levels of PGE₂ (green gradient) may form a gradient with highest activity closest to the two bilateral stripes of cox2a (solid green bands), the rate-limiting enzyme in PGE₂ synthesis. Cells closest to the highest levels of PGE₂ are more likely to acquire a liver fate (red cells), whereas cells farther from the source of PGE₂ acquire an exocrine pancreas fate (blue cells). Augmenting levels of PGE₂ promotes a liver fate at the cost of a pancreas fate, whereas decreasing levels of PGE₂ promotes a pancreas fate at the cost of a liver fate.

Acknowledgments

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Reprinted from Developmental Cell, 28(4), Nissim, S., Sherwood, R.I., Wucherpfennig, J., Saunders, D., Harris, J.M., Esain, V., Carroll, K.J., Frechette, G.M., Kim, A.J., Hwang, K.L., Cutting, C.C., Elledge, S., North, T.E., and Goessling, W., Prostaglandin E2 regulates liver versus pancreas cell-fate decisions and endodermal outgrowth, 423-437, Copyright (2014) with permission from Elsevier. Full text @ Dev. Cell