Project description:Wolfram syndrome is caused by mutations in the WFS1 gene. WFS1 protein dysfunction results in a range of neuroendocrine syndromes and is mostly characterized by juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy. WFS1 has been shown to participate in membrane trafficking, protein processing and Ca2+ homeostasis in the endoplasmic reticulum. In the present study we aimed to find the transcriptomic changes influenced by Wfs1 in the hypothalamus and hippocampus using RNA-sequencing. We used WFS1-deficient mice as a model system to analyze the changes in transcriptional networks. The number of differentially expressed genes between hypothalami of WFS1-deficient (Wfs1KO) and wild-type (WT) mice was 43 and between hippocampi 311 with False Discovery Rate (FDR) <0.05. In hypothalamus of Wfs1KO mice one of the most upregulated genes was Avpr1a whilst Avpr1b was significantly upregulated in hippocampus. Trpm8 was the most upregulated gene in the hippocampus of Wfs1KO mice. The functional analysis revealed significant enrichment of networks and pathways associated with protein synthesis, cell-to-cell signaling and interaction, molecular transport, metabolic disease and nervous system development and function. In conclusion, the transcriptomic profiles of WFS1-deficient hypothalamus and hippocampus do indicate the activation of degenerative molecular pathways causing the clinical occurrences typical to Wolfram syndrome.
Project description:Wolfram syndrome is caused by mutations in the WFS1 gene. WFS1 protein dysfunction results in a range of neuroendocrine syndromes and is mostly characterized by juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy. WFS1 has been shown to participate in membrane trafficking, protein processing and Ca2+ homeostasis in the endoplasmic reticulum. In the present study we aimed to find the transcriptomic changes influenced by Wfs1 in the hypothalamus and hippocampus using RNA-sequencing. We used WFS1-deficient mice as a model system to analyze the changes in transcriptional networks. The number of differentially expressed genes between hypothalami of WFS1-deficient (Wfs1KO) and wild-type (WT) mice was 43 and between hippocampi 311 with False Discovery Rate (FDR) <0.05. In hypothalamus of Wfs1KO mice one of the most upregulated genes was Avpr1a whilst Avpr1b was significantly upregulated in hippocampus. Trpm8 was the most upregulated gene in the hippocampus of Wfs1KO mice. The functional analysis revealed significant enrichment of networks and pathways associated with protein synthesis, cell-to-cell signaling and interaction, molecular transport, metabolic disease and nervous system development and function. In conclusion, the transcriptomic profiles of WFS1-deficient hypothalamus and hippocampus do indicate the activation of degenerative molecular pathways causing the clinical occurrences typical to Wolfram syndrome.
Project description:Wolfram syndrome, an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy, is caused by mutations in theWFS1gene.WFS1encodes an endoplasmic reticulum resident transmembrane protein. TheWfs1-null mice exhibit progressive insulin deficiency and diabetes. The aim of this study was to describe the insulin secretion and transcriptome of pancreatic islets inWFS1-deficient mice.WFS1-deficient (Wfs1KO) mice had considerably less pancreatic islets than heterozygous (Wfs1HZ) or wild-type (WT) mice. Wfs1KOpancreatic islets secreted less insulin after incubation in 2 and 10 mmol/L glucose and with tolbutamide solution compared toWTand Wfs1HZislets, but not after stimulation with 20 mmol/L glucose. Differences in proinsulin amount were not statistically significant although there was a trend that Wfs1KOhad an increased level of proinsulin. After incubation in 2 mmol/L glucose solution the proinsulin/insulin ratio in Wfs1KOwas significantly higher than that ofWTand Wfs1HZRNA-seq from pancreatic islets found melastatin-related transient receptor potential subfamily member 5 protein gene (Trpm5) to be downregulated inWFS1-deficient mice. Functional annotation ofRNAsequencing results showed thatWFS1 deficiency influenced significantly the pathways related to tissue morphology, endocrine system development and function, molecular transport network.