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Organ size is limited by the number of embryonic progenitor cells in the pancreas but not the liver

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  • Ben Z. Stanger

    (Harvard Stem Cell Institute, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
    Gastrointestinal Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA
    Present address: Division of Gastroenterology and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.)

  • Akemi J. Tanaka

    (Harvard Stem Cell Institute, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA)

  • Douglas A. Melton

    (Harvard Stem Cell Institute, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA)

Abstract

The determinants of vertebrate organ size are poorly understood, but the process is thought to depend heavily on growth factors and other environmental cues. In the blood and central nervous system, for example, organ mass is determined primarily by growth-factor-regulated cell proliferation and apoptosis to achieve a final target size. Here, we report that the size of the mouse pancreas is constrained by an intrinsic programme established early in development, one that is essentially not subject to growth compensation. Specifically, final pancreas size is limited by the size of the progenitor cell pool that is set aside in the developing pancreatic bud. By contrast, the size of the liver is not constrained by reductions in the progenitor cell pool. These findings show that progenitor cell number, independently of regulation by growth factors, can be a key determinant of organ size.

Suggested Citation

  • Ben Z. Stanger & Akemi J. Tanaka & Douglas A. Melton, 2007. "Organ size is limited by the number of embryonic progenitor cells in the pancreas but not the liver," Nature, Nature, vol. 445(7130), pages 886-891, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:445:y:2007:i:7130:d:10.1038_nature05537
    DOI: 10.1038/nature05537
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    Cited by:

    1. Ruiye Bi & Qing Yin & Haohan Li & Xianni Yang & Yiru Wang & Qianli Li & Han Fang & Peiran Li & Ping Lyu & Yi Fan & Binbin Ying & Songsong Zhu, 2023. "A single-cell transcriptional atlas reveals resident progenitor cell niche functions in TMJ disc development and injury," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-18, December.

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