Hnf1a mutation in endocrine pancreas affect cell function and identity

Purpose: Hnf1a is an important regulator of pancreas development. Mutation in this gene in humans lead to Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young 3. Previous studies have shown that Hnf1a is important in function of insulin producing cells. However, they have not payed attention to islet cell identity, which we have focused on. Methods: WT mice or mice carrying a floxed version of the Hnf1a gene in all islet endocrine cells controlled by NGN3-cre were maintainted in normal housing condition and glyceamia were monitored twice a week. Islet cells were isolated from adult mice of each group and mRNA were extracted before shipping to Qiagen for analysis. Results: Mice carrying the floxed Hnf1a in all endocrine cells were severly hyperglyceamic with alterations in expression of important cell identiy genes.