In celebration of a century with insulin - Update of insulin gene mutations in diabetes

Julie Støy*, Elisa De Franco, Honggang Ye, Soo-Young Park, Graeme I Bell, Andrew T Hattersley

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaperReviewResearchpeer-review

29 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: While insulin has been central to the pathophysiology and treatment of patients with diabetes for the last 100 years, it has only been since 2007 that genetic variation in the INS gene has been recognised as a major cause of monogenic diabetes. Both dominant and recessive mutations in the INS gene are now recognised as important causes of neonatal diabetes and offer important insights into both the structure and function of insulin. It is also recognised that in rare cases, mutations in the INS gene can be found in patients with diabetes diagnosed outside the first year of life. Scope of Review: This review examines the genetics and clinical features of monogenic diabetes resulting from INS gene mutations from the first description in 2007 and includes information from 389 patients from 292 families diagnosed in Exeter with INS gene mutations. We discuss the implications for diagnosing and treating this subtype of monogenic diabetes. Major Conclusions: The dominant mutations in the INS gene typically affect the secondary structure of the insulin protein, usually by disrupting the 3 disulfide bonds in mature insulin. The resulting misfolded protein results in ER stress and beta-cell destruction. In contrast, recessive INS gene mutations typically result in no functional protein being produced due to reduced insulin biosynthesis or loss-of-function mutations in the insulin protein. There are clinical differences between the two genetic aetiologies, between the specific mutations, and within patients with identical mutations.

Original languageEnglish
Article number101280
JournalMolecular Metabolism
Volume52
Number of pages8
ISSN2212-8778
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2021

Keywords

  • Genetics
  • Insulin biosynthesis
  • Insulin gene
  • Monogenic diabetes
  • Neonatal diabetes
  • Pathophysiology

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