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Neonatal diabetes caused by disrupted pancreatic and β-cell development
1Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
Insights
Neonatal diabetes, often caused by single-gene mutations, affects infants before six months. This review explores genetic causes impacting beta-cell development and function, leading to diabetes.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Genetics
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM) is a rare condition diagnosed before 6 months of age.
- It is primarily caused by monogenic mutations affecting pancreatic beta-cell development or function.
- Over 30 genetic causes are known, impacting beta-cell mass or function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review genetic causes of NDM related to disrupted beta-cell development.
- To discuss current knowledge of genetic and phenotypic features of these conditions.
- To explore future research directions in NDM.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of genetic causes of neonatal diabetes.
- Analysis of studies on beta-cell development and function.
- Synthesis of phenotypic data associated with genetic variants.
Main Results:
- Seven genes disrupt overall pancreatic development, causing diabetes and exocrine insufficiency.
- Five genes, encoding transcription factors, cause NDM via impaired beta-cell development, often with extra-pancreatic features.
- Genetic variations significantly impact beta-cell number and function.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the genetic basis of NDM is crucial for diagnosis and management.
- Disrupted beta-cell development is a key mechanism in many NDM cases.
- Future research will likely uncover more genetic factors and therapeutic targets.
Abstract:
Neonatal diabetes is diagnosed before the age of 6 months and is usually caused by single-gene mutations. More than 30 genetic causes of neonatal diabetes have been described to date, resulting in severely reduced β-cell number or function. Seven of these genes are known to cause neonatal diabetes through disrupted development of the whole pancreas, resulting in diabetes and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Pathogenic variants in five transcription factors essential for β-cell development cause neonatal diabetes without other pancreatic phenotypes. However, additional extra-pancreatic features are common. This review will focus on the genes causing neonatal diabetes through disrupted β-cell development, discussing what is currently known about the genetic and phenotypic features of these genetic conditions, and what discoveries may come in the future.
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