Genetic Dissection Reveals Diabetes Loci Proximal to the Gimap5 Lymphopenia Gene.

Congenic DRF.(f/f) rats are protected from type 1 diabetes (T1D) by 34 Mb of F344 DNA introgressed proximal to the Gimap5 lymphopenia gene. To dissect the genetic factor(s) that confer protection from T1D in the DRF.(f/f) rat line, DRF.(f/f) rats were crossed to inbred BBDR or DR.(lyp/lyp) rats to generate congenic sublines that were genotyped, monitored for T1D and positional candidate genes sequenced. All (100%) DR.(lyp/lyp) rats developed T1D by 83 days of age. Reduction of the DRF.(f/f) F344 DNA fragment by 26 Mb (42.52 Mb-68.51 Mb) retained complete T1D protection. Further dissection revealed that a 2 Mb interval of F344 DNA (67.41-70.17 Mb) (Region 1) resulted in 47% protection and significantly delayed onset (p<0.001 compared to DR.(lyp/lyp)). Retaining <1 Mb of F344 DNA at the distal end (76.49-76.83 Mb) (Region 2) resulted in 28% protection and also delayed onset (p