Differential expression of Ormdl genes in the islets of mice and humans with obesity

Summary The orosomucoid-like (Ormdl) proteins play a critical role in sphingolipid homeostasis, inflammation, and ER stress, all of which are associated with obesity and β-cell dysfunction. However, their roles in β-cells and obesity remain unknown. Here, we show that islets from overweight/obese human donors displayed marginally reduced ORMDL1-2 expression while ORMDL3 expression was significantly downregulated compared to islets from lean donors. In contrast, Ormdl3 was substantially upregulated in the islets of leptin-deficient obese (ob/ob) mice compared to lean mice. Treatment of ob/ob mice and their islets with leptin markedly reduced islet Ormld3 expression. Ormdl3 knockdown in a β-cell line induced expression of pro-apoptotic markers, which was rescued by ceramide synthase inhibitor fumonisin B1. Our results reveal differential expression of Ormdl3 in the islets of a mouse model and humans with obesity, highlight the potential effect of leptin in this differential regulation, and suggest a role for Ormdl3 in β-cell apoptosis.