A missense mutation in zinc finger homeobox-3 (ZFHX3) impedes growth and alters metabolism and hypothalamic gene expression in mice.

ABSTRACT: A protein altering variant in the gene encoding zinc finger homeobox-3 (ZFHX3) has recently been associated with lower BMI in a human genome-wide association study. We investigated metabolic parameters in mice harboring a missense mutation in Zfhx3 (Zfhx3^Sci/+ ) and looked for altered in situ expression of transcripts that are associated with energy balance in the hypothalamus to understand how ZFHX3 may influence growth and metabolic effects. One-year-old male and female Zfhx3^Sci/+ mice weighed less, had shorter body length, lower fat mass, smaller mesenteric fat depots, and lower circulating insulin, leptin, and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) concentrations than Zfhx3^+/+ littermates. In a second cohort of 9-20-week-old males and females, Zfhx3^Sc

SUBMITTER: Nolan PM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7615594 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature