Abstract
Type 2 diabetes and fatty liver are multiple factor diseases controlled by both environmental and genetic factors. To reveal the gene (s) involved in common diseases caused by interaction with dietary factors, we performed genetic analyses using an animal model in which both environmental and genetic factors were strictly controlled. First, in mouse SMXA recombinant inbred strains, we demonstrated that interaction between latent susceptible genes led to development of type 2 diabetes and fatty liver. Subsequently, we identified the genomic region (quantitative trait locus: QTL) controlling susceptibility to high-fat diet-induced type 2 diabetes on mouse Chr. 2 and the QTL for fatty liver on Chr. 12. Furthermore, we showed that one of the candidate genes at the QTL for fatty liver could be involved in lipid metabolism. In a future study, we plan to identify the susceptible genes interacting with dietary factors in the development of type 2 diabetes and fatty liver, and will attempt to reveal how these dietary factors affect the susceptible genes.
