Tracing the cellular dynamics of sebaceous gland development in normal and perturbed states.

The sebaceous gland (SG) is an essential component of the skin, and SG dysfunction is debilitating. Yet, the cellular bases for its origin, development and subsequent maintenance remain poorly understood. Here, we apply large-scale quantitative fate mapping to define the patterns of cell fate behaviour during SG development and maintenance.

Hyperglycaemia attenuates in vivo reprogramming of pancreatic exocrine cells to beta cells in mice.

Aims/hypothesis: Reprogramming of pancreatic exocrine to insulin-producing cells by viral delivery of the genes encoding transcription factors neurogenin-3 (Ngn3), pancreas/duodenum homeobox protein 1 (Pdx1) and MafA is an efficient method for reversing diabetes in murine models. The variables that modulate reprogramming success are currently ill-defined.

Methods: Here, we assess the impact of glycaemia on in vivo reprogramming in a mouse model of streptozotocin-induced beta cell ablation, using subsequent islet transplantation or insulin pellet implantation for creation of groups with differing levels of glycaemia before viral delivery of transcription factors.