Diabetic modifier QTLs in F(2) intercrosses carrying homozygous transgene of TGF-beta.
When the homozygous active form of porcine TGF-beta1 transgene (Tgf/Tgf) (under control of the rat glucagon promoter) is introduced into the nonobese diabetic mouse (NOD) genetic background, the mice develop endocrine and exocrine pancreatic hypoplasia, low serum insulin concentrations, and impaired glucose tolerance. To identify genetic modifiers of the diabetic phenotypes, we crossed hemizygous NOD-Tgf with DBA/2J mice (D2) or C3H/HeJ mice (C3H) and used the "transgenic mice" for quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis. Genome-wide scans of F(2)-D Tgf/Tgf (D2 x NOD) and F(2)-C Tgf/Tgf (C3H x NOD), homozygous for the TGF-beta1 transgene, identified six statistically significant modifier QTLs: one QTL (Tdn1) in F(2)-D Tgf/Tgf, and five QTLs (Tcn1 to Tcn5) in F(2)-C Tgf/Tgf. Tdn1 (Chr 13, LOD = 4.39), and Tcn3 (Chr 2, LOD = 4.94) showed linkage to body weight at 8 weeks of age. Tcn2 (Chr 7, LOD = 4.38) and Tcn4 (Chr 14, LOD = 3.99 and 3.78) showed linkage to blood glucose (BG) concentrations in ipGTT at 30, 0, and 120 min, respectively. Tcn1 (Chr 1, LOD = 4.41) and Tcn5 (Chr 18, LOD = 4.99) showed linkage to serum insulin concentrations in ipGTT at 30 min. Tcn2 includes the candidate gene, uncoupling protein 2 (Ucp2), and shows linkage to Ucp2 mRNA levels in the soleus muscle (LOD = 4.90). Identification of six QTLs for diabetes-related traits in F(2)-D Tgf/Tgf and F(2)-C Tgf/Tgf raises the possibility of identifying candidate susceptibility genes and new targets for drug development for human type 2 diabetes.
Suzuki
Takao
T
Division of Genetic Information, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan.
Moritani
Maki
M
Yoshino
Masayasu
M
Kagami
Mitsuhiro
M
Iwasaki
Shoji
S
Nishimura
Kouichi
K
Akamatsu
Masahiko
M
Kobori
Masato
M
Matsushime
Hitoshi
H
Kotoh
Masao
M
Furuichi
Kiyoshi
K
Itakura
Mitsuo
M
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001835:Body Weight; D033481:Chromosomes, Mammalian; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005508:Food Deprivation; D016678:Genome; D006720:Homozygote; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008126:Lod Score; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000235:genetics*; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013552:Swine; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics*; D019076:Transgenes / Q000235:genetics*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta