We created mice with conditional knockout of HMGB1 in the pancreas (Pdx1-Cre;Hmgb1−/−, termed CH mice) using Cre/loxP strategies and reported that CH mice exhibit normal pancreatic development and function under physiological conditions, but are more sensitive to experimental pancreatitis under pathological conditions24. Here, PDX1 is linked to cyclic hematopoiesis.