Models transgènics per l'estudi de la patogènesis de la diabetis mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus is the most common metabolic disease in humans. In spite of an immense investment of resources, a clear understanding of the basic pathogenic mechanisms of diabetes has not yet emerged. Gene transfer into animals of key genes in the regulation of the metabolic pathways involved in the development of the diabetic process will provide new insights in the pathogenesis of this group of pathologies and the establishment of new therapeutical protocols. The final goal of this project is the indentification of the pathogenic mechanisms of diabetes mellitus by gene transfer to animals of key genes in the regulation of metabolic pathways in liver, pancreas, and adipose tissue. Our approaches involve the overexpression of genes, both in the tissues where they are normally expressed (using fragments of their own promoters, or transferring YACs containing the whole locus), and specifically in a single tissue (using heterologus promoters). We will analyze the short -and long- term effects on energy metabolism in the target tissues, and the systemic effects of a secondary cinokucatuibs derived from the diabetic process and/or the associated obesity. All these animals models will provide key information to the understanding of the pathogenesis of dioabtes. Futhermore, these transgenic animals, once characterized metabolically, will be useful in the design of new therapeutic approaches and pharmaceutical products.