Differential transcriptional and posttranslational transcription factor 7-like regulation among nondiabetic individuals and type 2 diabetic patients

Mol Endocrinol. 2014 Sep;28(9):1558-70. doi: 10.1210/me.2014-1065. Epub 2014 Jul 24.

Abstract

Human genetic studies have revealed that the T minor allele of single nucleotide polymorphism rs7903146 in the transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene is strongly associated with an increased risk of diabetes by 30%-40%. Molecular and clinical studies are of great importance for understanding how this unique variation in TCF7L2 influences type 2 diabetes (T2D) onset and progression. At the molecular level, some studies have been performed in diabetic mice and pancreatic islets from healthy human donors. Whereas TCF7L2 mRNA levels are up-regulated in islets, protein levels are down-regulated. We performed studies on TCF7L2 splicing, mRNA expression, and protein levels in immortalized human lymphocytes from nondiabetic individuals and T2D patients carrying the C/C or the at-risk T/T genotype. Our results show differential expression of TCF7L2 splice variants between nondiabetic and T2D patients carrying the at-risk genotype, as well as differences in protein levels. Therefore, we investigated the regulation of splice variants, and our results propose that splicing of exon 4 is under control of the serine-arginine-rich factor transformer 2 β (TRA2B). Finally, we studied the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways, looking for a posttranslational explanation. We saw a shift in the activation of these pathways between nondiabetic individuals and T2D patients carrying the at-risk genotype. These results suggest that, in human immortalized lymphocytes carrying the at-risk T/T genotype, first the differential expression of TCF7L2 splice variants implies a regulation, at least for exon 4, by TRA2B and second, the differential protein levels between both T/T carriers point to a different activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alleles
  • Alternative Splicing
  • Binding Sites
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / genetics*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / metabolism*
  • Exons
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Genotype
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Protein Biosynthesis*
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism
  • Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein / genetics
  • Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic*

Substances

  • Insulin
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • TCF7L2 protein, human
  • Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein
  • Glucose

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Grant SAF 2010-19527), the Government of Catalonia (Grant 2009 SGR-1426) and the European Community Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) (Grant Agreement 218131). M.P.-J. is the recipient of Formación de Personal Investigador Grant BES-2011-044579 (SAF2010-19527), and E.F.-R. is the recipient of a BIOTRACK Postdoctoral Fellowship in Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (EC FP7/2009-2013) under Agreement 229673. N.N. held a Marie Curie grant under Agreement 218130. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas is an initiative of Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation).