CONTEXT

The predisposition gene to multiple neoplasia endocrine type 1 (MEN1) is a crucial factor for the control of cellular proliferation and differentiation of the pancreatic endocrine cells.

By disrupting the Men1 gene specifically in the pancreatic β-cell in mice, the inventors generated a mouse β-cell tumor (insulinoma) model where the pre-tumoral and tumor lesions develop in a relatively synchronized and homogenous way.