Paternal high-fat diet elicits early-onset se-specific islet inflammation in rat progeny

Progressive β–cell failure and apoptosis, resultant of innate immune system activation1,2 is gaining traction as a converging point for type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D). Islet inflammation (insulitis), a hallmark of T1D, occurs typically during the initiation phase of the disease, subsequently orchestrating an autoimmune assault against β–cells. Whether this is a primary event or a consequence of glucotoxicity or lipotoxicity is undetermined3 but metabolic stress is demonstrated to prompt islet inflammation1,2. Here we show that paternal consumption of high fat diet (HFD) invoked distinct immuno-inflammatory transcriptional response in the pancreatic islets of their weanling daughters, in contrast to compensatory changes in the sons. Importantly, these changes occurred in conjunction with transition in islet repertoire resembling the spectrum of T2D, along with progressive development of β–cell dysfunction4. Note, these females were lean, normolipidaemic and insulin sensitive4. These findings provide experimental support for the notion that islet inflammation could be an antecedent event in T2D, leading to β–cell secretory defect, repair/regeneration and apoptosis. Importantly, these effects were transmitted via paternal nutrient stress to offspring.