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Biomedical subjects

M A Permutt

Publications and source records attributed to M A Permutt.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Familial hyperinsulinism with apparent autosomal dominant inheritance: clinical and genetic differences from the autosomal recessive variant.

We describe three families with hypoglycemia caused by familial hyperinsulinism (HI) in whom vertical transmission of the disorder occurred, suggesting autosomal dominant (AD) inheritance. We therefore examined the relationship between the apparent AD disorder and the more common autosomal recessive (AR) form of HI, which has recently been linked to the sulfonylurea receptor on chromosome 11p15.1. The clinical features of the 11 patients with AD HI were milder than those seen in 14 patients with AR HI. Hypoglycemia was readily controlled with either diet alone or with diazoxide in 10 of 11 patients with AD HI but in none of those with the AR form. In one large pedigree, analysis of genomic DNA with polymorphic simple sequence repeat markers excluded linkage of AD HI to the SUR locus in a dominant manner. The possibility of linkage to the SUR locus could not be absolutely excluded in the two smaller pedigrees. None of the published mutations of the SUR gene identified in patients with AR HI were detected in the patients with the AD form. We conclude that the AD form of hyperinsulinism is phenotypically different from the AR variant. The identification of more families with this form of HI may make it possible to locate the responsible gene by the use of linkage analysis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

A gene encoding a transmembrane protein is mutated in patients with diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy (Wolfram syndrome).

Wolfram syndrome (WFS; OMIM 222300) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder defined by young-onset non-immune insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and progressive optic atrophy. Linkage to markers on chromosome 4p was confirmed in five families. On the basis of meiotic recombinants and disease-associated haplotypes, the WFS gene was localized to a BAC/P1 contig of less than 250 kb. Mutations in a novel gene (WFS1) encoding a putative transmembrane protein were found in all affected individuals in six WFS families, and these mutations were associated with the disease phenotype. WFS1 appears to function in survival of islet beta-cells and neurons.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Genetic heterogeneity in familial hyperinsulinism.

Familial hyperinsulinism (HI) is a disorder characterized by dysregulation of insulin secretion and profound hypoglycemia. Mutations in both the Kir6.2 and sulfonylurea receptor (SUR1) genes have been associated with the autosomal recessive form of this disorder. In this study, the spectrum and frequency of SUR1 mutations in HI and their significance to clinical manifestations of the disease were investigated by screening 45 HI probands of various ethnic origins for mutations in the SUR1 gene. Single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and nucleotide sequence analyses of genomic DNA revealed a total of 17 novel and three previously described mutations in SUR1 . The novel mutations comprised one nonsense and 10 missense mutations, two deletions, three mutations in consensus splice-site sequences and an in-frame insertion of six nucleotides. One mutation occurred in the first nucleotide binding domain (NBF-1) of the SUR1 molecule and another eight mutations were located in the second nucleotide binding domain (NBF-2), including two at highly conserved amino acid residues within the Walker A sequence motif. The majority of the remaining mutations was distributed throughout the three putative transmembrane domains of the SUR1 protein. With the exception of the 3993-9G-->A mutation, which was detected on 4.5% (4/88) disease chromosomes, allelic frequencies for the identified mutations varied between 1.1 and 2.3% for HI chromosomes, indicating that each mutation was rare within the patient cohort. The clinical manifestations of HI in those patients homozygous for mutations in the SUR1 gene are described. In contrast with the allelic homogeneity of HI previously described in Ashkenazi Jewish patients, these findings suggest that a large degree of allelic heterogeneity at the SUR1 locus exists in non-Ashkenazi HI patients. These data have important implications for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis of HI, and also provide a basis to further elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of this disease.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗
PubMed1998

Hyperinsulinism: molecular aetiology of focal disease.

Persistent hypoglycaemia in infancy is most commonly caused by hyperinsulinism. A case is reported of the somatic loss of the maternal 11p in an insulin secreting focal adenoma in association with a germline SUR-1 mutation on the paternal allele in a baby boy with hyperinsulinism diagnosed at 49 days old. A reduction to homozygosity of an SUR-1 mutation is proposed as a critical part of the cause of focal hyperinsulinism.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗
PubMed1998

Identification and functional analysis of sulfonylurea receptor 1 variants in Japanese patients with NIDDM.

The sulfonylurea receptor 1 (SUR1) is an essential regulatory subunit of the beta-cell ATP-sensitive K+ channel (K[ATP]). The possible role of SUR1 gene mutation(s) in the development of NIDDM remains controversial as both a positive association and negative linkage results have been reported. Therefore, we examined the SUR1 gene at the single nucleotide level with single strand conformation polymorphism analysis in 100 Japanese NIDDM patients. We identified a total of five amino acid substitutions and 17 silent mutations by examining all 39 exons of this gene. Two rare novel mutations, D811N in exon 20 and R835C in exon 21, were identified in the first nucleotide-binding fold (NBF), a functionally important region of SUR1, in one patient each, both heterozygotes. To analyze possible functional alterations, we reconstituted the mutant K(ATP) by coexpressing beta-cell inward rectifier (BIR) (Kir 6.2), a channel subunit of K(ATP), and mutant SUR1 in HEK293T and COS-7 cells. As demonstrated by the patch clamp technique and rubidium (Rb+) efflux studies, neither mutation alters the properties of channel activities. Two other rare missense mutations, R275Q in exon 6 and V560M in exon 12, were also identified. The R275Q substitution was not found in 67 control subjects, and V560M was present in three control subjects. Neither of these substitutions appeared to cosegregate with NIDDM in the probands' families. A previously reported S1370A substitution located in the second NBF was also common in the Japanese subjects (allelic frequency 0.37), and was found at an equal frequency in nondiabetic control subjects. In conclusion, SUR1 mutations impairing K(ATP) function do not appear to be major determinants of NIDDM susceptibility in Japanese.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗
PubMed1998

Decreased tolbutamide-stimulated insulin secretion in healthy subjects with sequence variants in the high-affinity sulfonylurea receptor gene.

The high-affinity sulfonylurea receptor (SUR1) is, as a subunit of the ATP-sensitive potassium channel, an important regulator of insulin secretion in the pancreatic beta-cell. The aim of this study was to examine if genetic variability of the SUR1 gene was associated with NIDDM or altered pancreatic beta-cell function. Mutational analysis of all the 39 SUR1 exons, including intron-exon boundaries, in 63 NIDDM patients revealed two missense variants, five silent variants in the coding region, and four intron variants. The two missense variants (Asp673Asn and Ser1369Ala) and two sequence variants (ACC-->ACT, Thr759Thr and a c-->t intron variant in position -3 of the exon 16 splice acceptor site) were examined for association with NIDDM and for a possible influence on insulin and C-peptide secretion after intravenous glucose and tolbutamide loads in a random sample of unrelated, healthy, young Danish Caucasians. The Asp673Asn variant in exon 14 was only identified in one NIDDM patient, and the allelic frequency of the Ser1369Ala was similar among 247 control subjects (0.38 [95% CI 0.34-0.42]) and 406 NIDDM patients (0.40 [0.37-0.43]). The allelic frequency of the silent exon 18 Thr775Thr variant was 0.051 (0.035-0.067) in NIDDM patients (n=392) and 0.027 (0.013-0.041) in control subjects (n=246; chi2=4.99, P=0.03). The allelic frequency of the intron variant was similar among NIDDM patients (0.45 [0.42-0.48]) and control subjects (0.44 [0.40-0.48]). Of 386 NIDDM patients, 17 had the combined genotype exon 18 C/T and intron -3c/-3t (0.044 [0.024-0.064]), whereas 3 of 243 control subjects had the same combined genotype (0.012 [0-0.026]; chi2=4.87, P=0.03; odds ratio: 3.69 [1.07-12.71]). Of 380 unrelated, healthy, young Danish Caucasians, 10 (0.026 [0.010-0.042]) had the combined at-risk genotype. These subjects had, on average, a 50% reduction in serum C-peptide and a 40% reduction in serum insulin responses upon tolbutamide injection (P=0.002 and P=0.05, respectively) but normal serum C-peptide and insulin responses upon glucose injection. In conclusion, a silent polymorphism in exon 18 of the SUR1 gene is associated with NIDDM in a Danish Caucasian population. In combination with an intron variant, the association is higher, and young, healthy carriers of the intragenic combination have reduced serum C-peptide and insulin responses to a tolbutamide load.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗
PubMed1998

Functional analyses of novel mutations in the sulfonylurea receptor 1 associated with persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy.

The ATP-sensitive potassium channel, K(ATP) channel, a functional complex of the sulfonylurea receptor 1, SUR1, and an inward rectifier potassium channel subunit, Kir6.2, regulates insulin secretion in the pancreas. Mutations in both the Kir6.2 and SUR1 genes are associated with persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy (PHHI), a disorder of pancreatic beta-cell function characterized by excess insulin secretion and hypoglycemia. We have studied the functional properties of novel SUR1 mutations identified in PHHI patients, including H125Q, N188S, F591L, T1139M, R1215Q, G1382S, and R1394H. R1394H and deltaF1388 SUR1, a previously identified PHHI mutation, resulted in no functional channels when coexpressed with Kir6.2 in COS cells, while H125Q, N188S, F591L, T1139M, R1215Q, and G1382S SUR1 generated functional channels in the absence of ATP. With the exception of N188S and H125Q, all mutants had reduced response to stimulation by MgADP. These results indicate that lack of, or reduction of, K(ATP) channel sensitivity to MgADP is a common molecular defect associated with the disease. The mutant channels also showed varied response to activation by the potassium channel opener diazoxide. Because these mutations are distributed throughout the molecule, our data have new implications for structure-function relationships of the K(ATP) channel, suggesting that structural elements in SUR1 outside of the two nucleotide-binding folds are also important in regulating channel activity.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗
PubMed1998

Genetics of type II diabetes.

Defining the genetic basis of Type II or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) will accelerate our progress toward understanding its etiology and will provide new therapeutic targets for treatment of this common disease. Here we present a brief overview of the history of the search for diabetes genes and report current strategies employed by our laboratory and by others in this effort. Isolation and subsequent mapping of candidate genes involved in insulin production and action has been a major effort in this field. Our lab has focused on pancreatic islet beta-cell genes, since the insulin lack of NIDDM is often the result of resistance to the action of insulin that is superimposed on a limited ability to produce insulin. A number of islet genes have been evaluated, including those involved in glucose metabolism, islet K+ channel genes, and transcription factors. For each gene, human cDNAs and genomic clones have been isolated and simple sequence repeat polymorphisms (SSRPs) identified. The SSRPs were used to map the genes by linkage in CEPH pedigrees, or sequence-tagged sites (STSs) were used to map the genes to radiation hybrids (RH) or to YAC clones containing SSRPs. The SSRPs have then been used as markers for linkage analyses in families with NIDDM. Mutation screening by single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis and by sequencing has revealed variants that have been tested in association studies. A strategy was devised to generate novel expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from human pancreatic islet genes by differential display of islet mRNA. In the first phase of this project we identified 42 cDNAs that were preferentially expressed in pancreatic islets relative to exocrine tissue. When compared to sequences in GenBank, novel genes were represented by 69%. Enhanced islet expression was confirmed by Northern analysis of RNA. Sequence-tagged sites were synthesized for a number of islet ESTs and used to map these genes to human chromosomes. This strategy provides an effective means to selectively identify and map genes transcribed in human pancreatic islets and to identify novel islet candidate genes for NIDDM. Positional cloning of NIDDM genes in families of various racial groups is being conducted by a number of labs. Although regions of genetic susceptibility are being identified, finding the genes within these regions will be difficult because of the polygenic nature of the disease As an alternative strategy, we have begun to map genes responsible for monogenic disorders of carbohydrate metabolism. Familial hyperinsulinism (HI, OMIM #256450) is a rare recessive disease associated with neonatal hyperinsulinism and life-threatening hypoglycemia. To determine the molecular basis for HI, we mapped the gene in multiplex families to chromosome 11p14-15.1. A candidate gene, the sulfonylurea receptor (SUR1), was mapped to the region and shown to harbor mutations in HI patients. Analysis of 21 identified mutations has revealed the role of SUR1 as a nucleotide regulator of the islet ATP-sensitive K+ channel. The challenge for the future will be to utilize the information provided by the Human Genome Project (i.e., the complete nucleotide sequence and expression maps of the genome) to find diabetes-predisposing genes. Our immediate goals include collecting families with NIDDM for phenotyping and for DNA analysis and continuing to identify suitable candidate genes to be studied in these families.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2↗
PubMed1997

Identification of a human LMX1 (LMX1.1)-related gene, LMX1.2: tissue-specific expression and linkage mapping on chromosome 9.

LMX1 is a LIM-homeodomain (LIM-HD)-containing protein expressed selectively in insulin-producing beta-cell lines, and it it has been shown to activate insulin gene transcription. The human LMX1 gene was mapped by fluorescence in situ hybridization to chromosome region 1q22-q23, yet Church et al. (1994, Nat. Genet. 6: 98-105) identified two exon-trapping products from human chromosome 9 that were highly homologous to hamster LMX1. In the current study, we demonstrate tissue-specific expression of an LMX1 (now known as LMX1.1)-related gene, named LMX1.2. The chicken C-LMX1 gene, recently cloned using the hamster LMX1.1 sequence and shown to specify dorsal cell fate during vertebrate limb development (9), is actually more related to human LMX1.2 than LMX1.1. We have identified a unique simple sequence repeat polymorphic marker (hLMX1.2CA1) in a P1 genomic clone containing the human LMX1.2 gene and genetically mapped the marker on chromosome 9 between markers D9S1825 and D9S290 with odds of at least 1000:1. In addition, we localized the human LMX1.1 gene to three CEPH "B" yeast artificial chromosome clones (907A11, 935B12, and 947B2), along with two nearby polymorphic markers (D1S426 and D1S194)). Identification of this new LIM-HD-related gene may provide the opportunity to elucidate further the function of LIM class homeobox genes. Nearby polymorphic markers will be useful in testing the hypothesis that mutations in these LIM-HD genes result in genetic diseases such as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Human cholecystokinin type A receptor gene: cytogenetic localization, physical mapping, and identification of two missense variants in patients with obesity and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

The human CCKAR gene was previously mapped to chromosome 4 using a panel of human/hamster somatic cell hybrids. We now report the cytogenetic and physical localization of the CCKAR gene. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we determined that CCKAR maps to 4p15.1-p15.2. On the physical map, CCKAR was adjacent to the marker AFMa283yh5, between AFMb355ya5 and WI-4086. A simple sequence repeat (D4S391) with high heterozygosity was found in the database, and CCKAR and this genetic marker were colocalized on two YACs (933D9 and 928A5). We also characterized the genomic structure and determined the exon-intron boundaries of the gene. This provided the opportunity to screen the gene in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and/or obesity for single nucleotide changes using a single-strand conformational polymorphism strategy. Five sequence variants were identified in the coding sequence of the gene, including two missense variants (G21R and V365I). The results of these studies provide (1) precise genetic and physical mapping data, (2) exon-intron sequences for single nucleotide analysis, and (3) identification of two missense mutations in the CCKAR gene. The contribution of these CCKAR variants to normal physiology, to obesity, and to diabetes can now be evaluated.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Isolation, characterization, and chromosomal mapping of the human Nkx6.1 gene (NKX6A), a new pancreatic islet homeobox gene.

Nkx6.1 (gene symbol NKX6A), a new member of the NK homeobox gene family, was recently identified in rodent pancreatic islet beta-cell lines. The pattern of expression suggested that this gene product might be important for control of islet development and/or regulation of insulin biosynthesis. We now report cloning of human NKX6A, characterization of its genomic structure, and its chromosomal localization. The predicted protein of human NKX6A contained 367 amino acids and had 97% identity to the hamster protein. The highly conserved NK decapeptide and homeodomain regions were identical between human and hamster, suggesting functional importance of these domains. The coding region spanned approximately 4.8 kb and was composed of three exons. The gene was localized to four CEPH "B" yeast artificial chromosome clones (914B4, 951G9, 981D6, and 847B3), and a nearby polymorphic marker (D4S1538) on chromosome 4 was identified < 1270 kb from the gene. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we also determined that NKX6A maps to 4q21.2-q22.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Genetic studies of the leptin receptor gene in morbidly obese French Caucasian families.

Family studies have shown that in some populations up to 75% of the variation of body mass index can be explained by genetic factors. However, in humans, no major obesity gene has been identified to date. In contrast, there are a number of genetically well defined animal models for obesity. In two of those models (ob/ob and db/db), defects in the same pathway are responsible for obesity. Recently, some evidence has been found for the OB gene also being involved in human obesity. In this study we investigated the potential role of the OB receptor (OBR) in the etiology of massive obesity in humans using familial linkage analyses and case-control association studies. The typing of two microsatellite markers (D1S198 and D1S209), flanking the OBR gene, in 256 sib pairs showed no evidence for linkage with obesity. In order to be able to detect small gene effects, association studies with a 3'-UTR insertion/deletion polymorphism were carried out. The results of these analyses remained non-significant (chi 2 = 3.442, P = 0.18). However, subjects heterozygous for the insertion/deletion polymorphism showed a slight trend towards lower insulin values 30 min after an oral glucose load compared to homozygous individuals (P = 0.02). In summary, our results do not support a major role of the human OBR gene in the development of morbid obesity in our population.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

A nonsense mutation in the inward rectifier potassium channel gene, Kir6.2, is associated with familial hyperinsulinism.

ATP-sensitive potassium (K[ATP]) channels are an essential component of glucose-dependent insulin secretion in pancreatic islet beta-cells. These channels comprise the sulfonylurea receptor (SUR1) and Kir6.2, a member of the inward rectifier K+ channel family. Mutations in the SUR1 subunit are associated with familial hyperinsulinism (HI) (MIM:256450), an inherited disorder characterized by hyperinsulinism in the neonate. Since the Kir6.2 gene maps to human chromosome 11p15.1 (1,2), which also encompasses a locus for HI, we screened the Kir6.2 gene for the presence of mutations in 78 HI probands by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and nucleotide sequence analyses. A nonsense mutation, Tyr-->Stop at codon 12 (designated Y12X) was observed in the homozygous state in a single proband. 86Rb+ efflux measurements and single-channel recordings of COS-1 cells co-expressing SUR1 and either wild-type or Y12X mutant Kir6.2 proteins confirmed that K(ATP) channel activity was abolished by this nonsense mutation. The identification of an HI patient homozygous for the Kir6.2/Y12X allele affords an opportunity to observe clinical features associated with mutations resulting in an absence of Kir6.2. These data provide evidence that mutations in the Kir6.2 subunit of the islet beta-cell K(ATP) channel are associated with the HI phenotype and also suggest that the majority of HI cases are not attributable to mutations in the coding region of the Kir6.2 gene.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Mapping novel pancreatic islet genes to human chromosomes.

A strategy was developed to generate expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from human pancreatic islet gene products using differential display of mRNA. Screening of over 2,000 cDNA amplification products identified 42 cDNAs that were preferentially expressed in pancreatic islets relative to exocrine tissue. Public database analysis showed that 29 (69%) corresponded to novel genes, in contrast with only 66 of 250 (26.4%) cDNA clones randomly selected from a human islet library. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and/or Northern analysis of RNA from multiple tissues confirmed that expression was enhanced in human islet cell RNA for 11 of 15 tested cDNAs. Sequence-tagged sites developed from 19 islet cDNAs were used to map these genes to human chromosomes using a combination of monochromosomal somatic-cell hybrids, genome-wide radiation hybrids, and mega-yeast artificial chromosome analysis. These results indicate that this PCR-based cDNA selection strategy yields information on a distinct subset of pancreatic islet transcribed sequences, which complements ongoing human EST identification efforts based on random cDNA selection. These mapped ESTs may be used to assist in the positional cloning of diabetes susceptibility genes.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Sequence variants in the pancreatic islet beta-cell inwardly rectifying K+ channel Kir6.2 (Bir) gene: identification and lack of role in Caucasian patients with NIDDM.

Signals derived from the metabolism of glucose in pancreatic beta-cells lead to insulin secretion via the closure of ATP-sensitive K+ channels (KATP). The cloning of the gene encoding the beta-cell inward rectifier Kir6.2 (Bir), a subunit of the beta-cell KATP channel, provided the opportunity to look for mutations in this gene that might contribute to the impaired insulin secretion of NIDDM. By single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis on 35 Northern-European Caucasian patients with NIDDM, six sequence variants were detected: Glu10gag-->Lys10aag (E1OK), Glu23gag-->Lys23aag (E23K), Leu270ctg-->Val270gtg (L270V), Ile337atc-->Val337gtc (I337V), and two silent mutations. Allelic frequencies for the missense variants were compared between the NIDDM group (n = 306) and nondiabetic control subjects (n = 175) and did not differ between the two groups. Pairwise allelic associations indicated significant linkage disequilibrium between the variants in Kir6.2 and between them and a nearby pancreatic beta-cell sulfonylurea receptor (SUR1) missense variant (S1370A), but these linkage disequilibria did not differ between the NIDDM and control groups. The results of these studies thus revealed that mutations in the coding region of Kir6.2 1) were not responsible for the previously noted association of the SUR1 variants with NIDDM (Inoue H et al., Diabetes 45:825-831, 1996) and 2) did not contribute to the impaired insulin secretion characteristic of NIDDM in Caucasian patients.

DNA Primers↗