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01-11-2005 | Article

Mice conditionally lacking the Wolfram gene in pancreatic islet beta cells exhibit diabetes as a result of enhanced endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis

Authors: A. C. Riggs, E. Bernal-Mizrachi, M. Ohsugi, J. Wasson, S. Fatrai, C. Welling, J. Murray, R. E. Schmidt, P. L. Herrera, M. A. Permutt

Published in: Diabetologia | Issue 11/2005

Abstract

Aims/hypothesis

Wolfram syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterised by childhood diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy and severe neurodegeneration, resulting in premature death. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms responsible for the phenotype of carbohydrate intolerance and loss of pancreatic beta cells in this disorder.

Materials and methods

To study the role of the Wolfram gene (Wfs1) in beta cells, we developed a mouse model with conditional deletion of Wfs1 in beta cells by crossing floxed Wfs1 exon 8 animals with mice expressing Cre recombinase under the control of a rat insulin promoter (RIP2-Cre). Complementary experiments using RNA interference of Wfs1 expression were performed in mouse insulinoma (MIN6) cell lines (WfsKD).

Results

Male knockout mice (βWfs ^−/−) began developing variable and progressive glucose intolerance and concomitant insulin deficiency, compared with littermate controls, by 12 weeks of age. Analysis of islets from βWfs ^−/− mice revealed a reduction in beta cell mass, enhanced apoptosis, elevation of a marker of endoplasmic reticulum stress (immunoglobulin heavy chain-binding protein [BiP]), and dilated endoplasmic reticulum with decreased secretory granules by electron microscopy. WfsKD cell lines had significantly increased apoptosis and elevated expression of the genes encoding BiP and C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP), two markers of endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Conclusions/interpretation

These results indicate that (1) lack of expression of Wfs1 in beta cells was sufficient to result in the diabetes mellitus phenotype; (2) beta cell death occurred by an accelerated process of apoptosis; and (3) lack of Wfs1 was associated with dilated endoplasmic reticulum and increased markers of endoplasmic reticulum stress, which appears to be a significant contributor to the reduction in beta cell survival.

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Title: Mice conditionally lacking the Wolfram gene in pancreatic islet beta cells exhibit diabetes as a result of enhanced endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis
Authors: A. C. Riggs
E. Bernal-Mizrachi
M. Ohsugi
J. Wasson
S. Fatrai
C. Welling
J. Murray
R. E. Schmidt
P. L. Herrera
M. A. Permutt
Publication date: 01-11-2005
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Diabetologia / Issue 11/2005
Print ISSN: 0012-186X
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0428
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-005-1947-4

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Mice conditionally lacking the Wolfram gene in pancreatic islet beta cells exhibit diabetes as a result of enhanced endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis

Abstract

Aims/hypothesis

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusions/interpretation

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