Transcription factors in pituitary gland development and their clinical impact on phenotype

Several genes encoding homeobox transcription factors are important for normal pituitary gland development and eventually for hormone production.

By interacting with each other on the basis of a distinct temporal and spatial expression pattern, as well as with other extrinsic and intrinsic signals, they control cell determination, cell differentiation and eventually maintenance of cell function which is most important for the lifelong secretion of the pituitary-derived hormones in an appropriate manner. The different phenotypes, as mainly studied in the mouse, may help to analyze the consequences of disruption of a known or yet unknown individual transcription factor in humans.

Therefore, to study the different steps in morphogenesis will shed light onto developmental processes which will open a most fascinating time not only for basic scientists and biologists, but also for clinicians seeing all these patients.