Abstract
The importance of hepatocyte nuclear factors (HNFs), as well as other transcription factors in β-cell development and function, was underlined by the characterization of human mutations causing maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY). HNF1A and HNF1B mutations lead to MODY forms 3 and 5, respectively. Thus, transcriptional control is an essential mechanism underlying the precise metabolic control exerted by β-cells in regulating insulin release. The diabetes phenotype of MODY3 (HNF1α) and the phenotypes of MODY5 (HNF1β), which can also include renal disease and genitourinary malformations, as well as neonatal diabetes and pancreatic agenesis, have now been described. However, detailed molecular pathology remains elusive. The large array of dominant-negative and deletion mutations, and the lack of structure–phenotype relationships for most mutations, have not helped us to formulate a mechanistic understanding. Further molecular studies of HNF1 actions and gene regulation are anticipated to provide useful insights into β-cell biology and potential therapeutic tools.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors received the following supporting grants: American Diabetes Association Research Grant 7–05-RA-121 (DBR), Diabetes Action Research & Education Foundation Grant #204 (DBR) and The Nicholas Dulong Diabetes Research Fund (LLL). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.