Transcriptome analysis of islets from diabetes-resistant and diabetes-prone obese mice reveals novel gene regulatory networks involved in beta cell compensation and failure

We carried out genome-wide transcriptome analysis of islets to investigate the gene expression landscape of ob/ob and db/db mouse models at 6 and 16 weeks of age. The purpose of this study is to determine the changes in the islet transcriptomic landscape that mediate the processes of beta cell compensation and failure in ob/ob and db/db mice. Islets of C57BL/KsJ db/db and C57BL/6J ob/ob mice, and their age-matched lean control mice were studied at 6 and 16 weeks of age. Mice were anesthetized and their islets isolated and handpicked under a stereomicroscope for extraction of RNA.