SPECIFIC REG-II GENE OVEREXPRESSION IN THE NONOBESE DIABETIC MOUSE PANCREAS DURING ACTIVE DIABETOGENESIS

The reg gene, previously described in islets of 90% pancreatectomized and nicotinamide-treated rats, has been shown to be expressed in many pharmacological or surgical animal models of beta cell regeneration, W e have studied the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse, which represents a good model of spontaneous autoimmune diabetes in which regenerative pr ocesses have recently been demonstrated, Two reg genes have been descr ibed in the mouse genome, both recognized by the human reg cDNA, In a previous work, using the human probe,we have demonstrated a strong cor relation between pancreatic reg gene expression and the likelihood of developing diabetes, In the present study, we have examined the respec tive levels of both mouse reg I and reg IT. mRNA in the NOD mouse panc reas using their specific cDNA probes, We found that reg II expression was specifically prevalent compared to reg I, irrespective of sex or state of the disease, Reg II mRNA was particularly increased in overtl y diabetic female mice and in cyclophosphamide-treated male mice, Thes e data underline the need to study separately the reg genes using spec ific probes and show that both reg genes are subjected to various regu lations, strongly suggesting that their physiological functions may be different. (C) 1997 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.