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

Objective: Several genes encoding homeobox transcription factors are import ant for normal pituitary gland development and eventually for hormone produ ction. Methods and Results: By interacting with each other on the basis of a distinct temporal and spatial expression pattern, as well as with other e xtrinsic and intrinsic signals, they control cell determination, cell diffe rentiation and eventually maintenance of cell function which is most import ant for the lifelong secretion of the pituitary-derived hormones in an appr opriate manner. The different phenotypes, as mainly studied in the mouse, m ay help to analyze the consequences of disruption of a known or yet unknown individual transcription factor in humans. Conclusion: Therefore, to study the different steps in morphogenesis will shed light onto developmental pr ocesses which will open a most fascinating time not only for basic scientis ts and biologists, but also for clinicians seeing all these patients.