Exocrine Pancreas Development and Maintenance

The exocrine pancreas constitutes most of the organ and is composed of specialized cells that
produce, secrete and transport digestive enzymes. Acinar cells synthesize large quantities of
enzymes, including proteases, which are released after food intake and delivered to the intestine
through an intricate ductal network. Disruption of exocrine pancreas development or irreversibly
tissue damage can lead to serious digestive disorders.

For more than two decades, our laboratory has investigated the role of homeobox transcription
factors in pancreatic development. These studies identified Prox1 as a key regulator of pancreatic
growth and morphogenesis during embryogenesis (Wang et al., Developmental Biology, 2005).
We subsequently demonstrated that loss of Prox1 disrupts pancreatic duct morphogenesis and
promotes pathological changes resembling chronic pancreatitis (Westmoreland et al.,
Gastroenterology, 2012), whereas persistent Prox1 expression impairs embryonic acinar cell
differentiation and maturation (Martinez-Ramirez et al., Gastro Hep. Advances, 2022). These
studies established Prox1 as a critical regulator of pancreatic exocrine development and function
and continue to guide our investigations into mechanisms of ductal homeostasis and repair in the
adult pancreas.