Mouse models and the genetics of diabetes: is there evidence for genetic overlap between type 1 and type 2 diabetes? Diabetes 54 Suppl 2:S151-S158

In humans, both type 1 and type 2 diabetes exemplify genetically heterogeneous complex diseases in which epi-genetic factors contribute to underlying genetic suscepti-bility. Extended human pedigrees often show inheritance of both diabetes types. A common pathophysiological de-nominator in both disease forms is pancreatic -cell expo-sure to proinflammatory cytokines. Hence, it is intuitive that systemically expressed genes regulating -cell ability to withstand chronic diabetogenic stress may represent a component of shared susceptibility to both major disease forms. In this review, the authors assemble evidence from genetic experiments using animal models developing clearly distinct diabetes syndromes to inquire whether some degree of overlap in genes contributing susceptibility can be demonstrated. The conclusion is that althoug