HNF-4alpha: from MODY to late-onset type 2 diabetes

Trends Mol Med. 2004 Nov;10(11):521-4. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2004.09.004.

Abstract

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a rare subtype of type 2 diabetes that is characterized by autosomal-dominant inheritance and can be caused by mutations in hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha (HNF-4alpha). Odom and colleagues have combined chromatin immunoprecipitation with promoter microarrays to identify numerous promoters occupied by HNF-4alpha in the human liver and islet, suggesting a very broad role for HNF-4alpha in glucose homeostasis. This notion is supported by recent genetic studies linking HNF-4alpha to the much more common late-onset type 2 diabetes.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age of Onset
  • Blood Glucose / genetics
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / genetics*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / metabolism
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Islets of Langerhans / metabolism
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / physiology*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • Transcription, Genetic*

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • HNF4A protein, human
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Transcription Factors