title: Islet specific Wnt activation in human type II diabetes.
abstract: The Wnt pathway effector gene TCF7L2 has been linked to type II diabetes, making it important to study the role of Wnt signaling in diabetes pathogenesis. We examined the expression of multiple Wnt pathway components in pancreases from normal individuals and type II diabetic individuals. Multiple members of the Wnt signaling pathway, including TCF7L2, Wnt2b, beta-catenin, pGSK3beta, TCF3, cyclinD1, and c-myc, were undetectable or expressed at low levels in islets from nondiabetic individuals, but were also upregulated specifically in islets of type II diabetic patients. Culture of pancreatic tissue and islet isolation led to Wnt activation that was reversed by the Wnt antagonist sFRP, demonstrating that Wnt activation in that setting was due to soluble Wnt factors. These data support a model in which the Wnt pathway plays a dynamic role in the pathogenesis of type II diabetes and suggest manipulation of Wnt signaling as a new approach to beta-cell-directed diabetes therapy.
authors.affiliation: Development and Aging Program, Burnham Institute for Medical Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Seung-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Demeterco
authors.forename: Ifat
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Geron
authors.forename: Annelie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abrahamsson
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Itkin-Ansari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016259:Genes, myc; D005865:Gestational Age; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D023421:Models, Animal; D010179:Pancreas / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012016:Reference Values; D051820:TCF Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D058118:Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein; D015854:Up-Regulation; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D051820:TCF Transcription Factors; C544894:TCF7L2 protein, human; C544895:Tcf7l2 protein, mouse; D058118:Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein; C115496:WNT2B protein, human; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin