Project description:Type 1 and type 2 diabetes (T1D and T2D) share pathophysiological characteristics, yet mechanistic links have remained elusive. T1D results from autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells, while 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 alter 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 for beta cell fragility in genetic predisposition to diabetes.
Project description:<p>A collection of patients with type-2 diabetes was collected at the Joslin Diabetes Center. Patients were categorized to a group of cases with diabetic nephropathy, and a group of controls with normoalbuminuria. From these groups, 173 cases and 177 controls were randomly selected for a genome-wide association study.</p>