Insulin2Q104del (Kuma) mutant mice develop diabetes with dominant inheritance

Sci Rep. 2020 Jul 22;10(1):12187. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-68987-z.

Abstract

Insulin gene mutations have been identified to cause monogenic diabetes, and most of which developed permanent neonatal diabetes at young ages before 6 months of age in humans. To establish an animal model of permanent diabetes, we performed genome editing using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. We generated a novel Kuma mutant mice with p.Q104del in the Insulin2 (Ins2) gene in a BRJ background that exhibits a severe immune deficiency. Kuma mutant mice are non-obese and developed hyperglycemia from 3 weeks after birth in both males and females, which are inherited in a dominant mode. Kuma mutant mice displayed reduced insulin protein levels from 3-weeks-old, which seem to be caused by the low stability of the mutant insulin protein. Kuma mutant showed a reduction in islet size and islet mass. Electron microscopic analysis revealed a marked decrease in the number and size of insulin granules in the beta-cells of the mutant mice. Hyperglycemia of the mutant can be rescued by insulin administration. Our results present a novel insulin mutation that causes permanent early-onset diabetes, which provides a model useful for islet transplantation studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems / genetics
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Editing
  • Glucose Tolerance Test
  • Hyperglycemia / drug therapy
  • Hyperglycemia / genetics
  • Hyperglycemia / pathology*
  • Insulin / genetics*
  • Insulin / therapeutic use
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / cytology
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / metabolism
  • Islets of Langerhans / physiology
  • Islets of Langerhans / ultrastructure
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / metabolism
  • Organ Size

Substances

  • Insulin
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides