Gene expression in diabetes-prone (NZO/HiBomDife) and diabetes-resistant (C57BL/6.V-Lepob/ob) mouse strains

Mouse strains like NZO and B6-ob/ob differ in their susceptibility to diet-induced diabetes. Comparison of the islet transcriptomes leads to genes that are either involved in protection or apoptosis of pancreatic islet cells upon carbohydrate challenge. Genes being upregulated in NZO can be seen as drivers of beta cell failure, while genes upregulated in B6-ob/ob are most likely involved in beta cell protection. Male NZO and B6-ob/ob mice were kept on a carbohydrate-free high-fat diet until the age of 18 wks. Afterwards, diet was switched to a carbohydrate-containing diet to induce glucolipotoxic stress. After 48 h pancreatic islets were isolated for transcriptome analysis.