Wdr13 and streptozotocin-induced diabetes

Nutr Diabetes. 2018 Oct 29;8(1):57. doi: 10.1038/s41387-018-0065-6.

Abstract

Type I diabetes, though contributes to only 5-10% of total diabetes cases, is a rising concern in today's world. Our previous studies have shown that the absence of WDR13 in mouse results in pancreatic β-cell hyper-proliferation. Also, amelioration of the diabetic phenotype on introgression of Wdr13-null (Wdr13-/0) mutation in genetically diabetic mice (Leprdb/db) [type II diabetes] was observed. It was thus, interesting to see the role of WDR13 in streptozotocin-mediated diabetes in mice, a model for type I diabetes. Wdr13-/0 mice along with its wild type (Wdr13+/0 mice) littermates were administered streptozotocin intraperitoneally for 5 consecutive days. Blood glucose levels and body weights of these mice were monitored for subsequent 5 weeks and then they were sacrificed for physiological and histological analyses. Results showed that Wdr13-/0 mice exhibited higher serum insulin levels, better glucose clearance and significantly higher number of proliferating β-cells; reiterating the finding that absence of WDR13 helps in β-cell hyper-proliferation and recovery from diabetes; further underscoring WDR13 as a key target molecule for diabetes treatment/amelioration.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism*
  • Body Weight / physiology
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / genetics
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / metabolism*
  • Insulin / blood*
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Insulin
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • WDR13 protein, mouse