| 1. |
- Peiris, Heshan, et al.
(author)
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A Syntenic Cross Species Aneuploidy Genetic Screen Links RCAN1 Expression to β-Cell Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetes
- 2016
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In: PLoS Genetics. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1553-7390 .- 1553-7404. ; 12:5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex metabolic disease associated with obesity, insulin resistance and hypoinsulinemia due to pancreatic β-cell dysfunction. Reduced mitochondrial function is thought to be central to β-cell dysfunction. Mitochondrial dysfunction and reduced insulin secretion are also observed in β-cells of humans with the most common human genetic disorder, Down syndrome (DS, Trisomy 21). To identify regions of chromosome 21 that may be associated with perturbed glucose homeostasis we profiled the glycaemic status of different DS mouse models. The Ts65Dn and Dp16 DS mouse lines were hyperglycemic, while Tc1 and Ts1Rhr mice were not, providing us with a region of chromosome 21 containing genes that cause hyperglycemia. We then examined whether any of these genes were upregulated in a set of ~5,000 gene expression changes we had identified in a large gene expression analysis of human T2D β-cells. This approach produced a single gene, RCAN1, as a candidate gene linking hyperglycemia and functional changes in T2D β-cells. Further investigations demonstrated that RCAN1 methylation is reduced in human T2D islets at multiple sites, correlating with increased expression. RCAN1 protein expression was also increased in db/db mouse islets and in human and mouse islets exposed to high glucose. Mice overexpressing RCAN1 had reduced in vivo glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and their β-cells displayed mitochondrial dysfunction including hyperpolarised membrane potential, reduced oxidative phosphorylation and low ATP production. This lack of β-cell ATP had functional consequences by negatively affecting both glucose-stimulated membrane depolarisation and ATP-dependent insulin granule exocytosis. Thus, from amongst the myriad of gene expression changes occurring in T2D β-cells where we had little knowledge of which changes cause β-cell dysfunction, we applied a trisomy 21 screening approach which linked RCAN1 to β-cell mitochondrial dysfunction in T2D.
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| 2. |
- Dooley, James, et al.
(author)
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Genetic predisposition for beta cell fragility underlies type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- 2016
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In: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1546-1718 .- 1061-4036. ; 48, s. 519-527
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D) diabetes share pathophysiological characteristics, yet mechanistic links have remained elusive. T1D results from autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells, whereas beta cell failure in T2D is delayed and progressive. Here we find a new genetic component of diabetes susceptibility in T1D non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, identifying immune-independent beta cell fragility. Genetic variation in Xrcc4 and Glis3 alters the response of NOD beta cells to unfolded protein stress, enhancing the apoptotic and senescent fates. The same transcriptional relationships were observed in human islets, demonstrating the role of beta cell fragility in genetic predisposition to diabetes.
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| 3. |
- Motterle, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Identification of islet-enriched long non-coding RNAs contributing to β-cell failure in type 2 diabetes
- 2017
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In: Molecular Metabolism. - : Elsevier BV. - 2212-8778. ; 6:11, s. 1407-1418
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Non-coding RNAs constitute a major fraction of the β-cell transcriptome. While the involvement of microRNAs is well established, the contribution of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the regulation of β-cell functions and in diabetes development remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to identify novel islet lncRNAs differently expressed in type 2 diabetes models and to investigate their role in β-cell failure and in the development of the disease. Methods: Novel transcripts dysregulated in the islets of diet-induced obese mice were identified by high throughput RNA-sequencing coupled with de novo annotation. Changes in the level of the lncRNAs were assessed by real-time PCR. The functional role of the selected lncRNAs was determined by modifying their expression in MIN6 cells and primary islet cells. Results: We identified about 1500 novel lncRNAs, a number of which were differentially expressed in obese mice. The expression of two lncRNAs highly enriched in β-cells, βlinc2, and βlinc3, correlated to body weight gain and glycemia levels in obese mice and was also modified in diabetic db/. db mice. The expression of both lncRNAs was also modulated in vitro in isolated islet cells by glucolipotoxic conditions. Moreover, the expression of the human orthologue of βlinc3 was altered in the islets of type 2 diabetic patients and was associated to the BMI of the donors. Modulation of the level of βlinc2 and βlinc3 by overexpression or downregulation in MIN6 and mouse islet cells did not affect insulin secretion but increased β-cell apoptosis. Conclusions: Taken together, the data show that lncRNAs are modulated in a model of obesity-associated type 2 diabetes and that variations in the expression of some of them may contribute to β-cell failure during the development of the disease.
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