Gene expression of pancreatic glutamic acid decarboxylase in the nonobese diabetic mouse.
The 65 kDa isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD 65) is an autoantigen implicated in type I diabetes. We have developed a quantitative PCR method to measure GAD 65 mRNA in the pancreas of nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. Two other nonautoimmune mouse strains were used as controls. In all mice, pancreatic GAD 65 expression declined with age. In 5-week-old NOD mice, a clear difference was detected between males and females. This sexual dimorphism may explain the absence of tolerance to GAD 65 in the NOD female which could contribute to autoimmune destruction of beta cells in the pancreas and subsequent development of diabetes.
Pleau
J M
JM
CNRS URA 1461, Université Paris V, France.
Esling
A
A
Bach
J F
JF
Dardenne
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010179:Pancreas / Q000201:enzymology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase