Disease relevance of Pax4

• Activation of Pax4 resulted in the expression of the late-stage transcription factors, including Pax6, Isl-1, and MafA, and generated a gene expression profile for WB-1A cells similar to that of functional rat insulinoma INS-1 cells [1].

High impact information on Pax4

• The most abundant transcription factor-binding sites conserved in the promoter regions of all Rbp genes examined in this study include AP-1, Oct-1, V-myb, USF, Pax-4, and the FOX family of transcription factors [2].
• These studies indicate that activation of Pax4 in Pdx1-VP16-expressing cells reprograms pancreatic precursor-like WB-1 cells into glucose-responsive, more mature insulin-producing cells [1].
• As Pax4 promotes late-stage beta-cell differentiation and maturation, we generated lentiviral vector (LV) containing mouse Pax4 gene and developed two hepatic cell lines expressing Pax4 in the absence (WB-2 cells) or presence (WB-1A cells) of Pdx1-VP16, via LV-mediated gene transfer [1].
• Activin A increases Pax4 gene expression in pancreatic beta cell lines [3].
• Pax4 is a paired-box transcription factor that plays an important role in the development of pancreatic beta-cells [4].

Biological context of Pax4

• Analysis of tissue distribution using Northern blotting and RT-PCR showed specific expression of Pax4 mRNA in pancreatic islets and RIN cells [5].

Anatomical context of Pax4

• Molecular cloning of rat Pax4 cDNA from a rat insulinoma cell line, RINm5F, library by PCR-based cloning strategy revealed four isoforms of the protein [5].

Other interactions of Pax4

• We found that the cells did not express several transcription factors known to be found in the beta-cell, including Nkx6.1, isl-1, Pax4 and Pax6 [6].
• Evaluation of transcription factors at the mRNA level revealed constant PDX-1, ngn3 and Pax4 expression, while undifferentiated cell markers, such as Oct4 and alpha-fetoprotein, were also detected frequently after 4 weeks of culture [7].
• They also expressed Beta2/NeuroD and Nkx2.2, but not Pax4 and PP [8].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of Pax4

• Functional Pax4 protein expression in WB-2 and WB-1A cells was confirmed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and Pdx1-VP16 protein expression in WB-1 and WB-1A cells was confirmed by Western blotting [1].
• Molecular cloning of rat Pax4: identification of four isoforms in rat insulinoma cells [5].

References