Xenopus as a model system for studying pancreatic development and diabetes

摘要: Diabetes is a chronic disease caused by the loss or dysfunction of insulin-producing β-cells in pancreas. To date, much our knowledge about humans comes from studying rare monogenic forms diabetes. Importantly, majority mutations so far associated to diabetes are genes that exert regulatory role pancreatic development and/or β-cell function. Thus, identification and study novel open an unprecedented window into human development. In this review, we summarize major advances genetic dissection different types insights gained developmental perspective. We highlight future challenges bridge gap between fast accumulation data through next-generation sequencing need functional mechanisms. Lastly, discuss relevance advantages candidate gene variants vivo using Xenopus as model system.