Increased renal hypertrophy in diabetic mice genetically modified at the haptoglobin locus

Background The human haptoglobin (Hp) gene is polymorphic with two functional classes of alleles, denoted 1 and 2. We have demonstrated in three longitudinal studies and several cross‐sectional studies that the Hp genotype is an independent risk factor for diabetic vascular disease. These studies have presented a compelling argument that diabetic individuals homozygous for the Hp 1 allele are at decreased risk of vascular complications as compared to diabetic individuals with the Hp 2 allele. Methods The naturally occurring (wild type) mouse Hp is a class 1 Hp allele. We examined renal hypertrophy in wild‐type mice, Hp knockout mice (Hp 0), and in mice with the Hp 2 allele (Hp 2) with and without diabetes. Results In the absence of diabetes, we found that renal hypertrophy was significantly increased in Hp 0 mice and that this could be prevented with vitamin E. There was no difference between wild type and Hp 2 mice with regard to renal hypertrophy in the absence of diabetes. However, in the presence of diabetes, Hp 2 mice demonstrated a significant increase in renal hypertrophy as compared to wild‐type mice. Conclusions These results support a direct linkage between diabetic vascular disease and the Hp genotype. These Hp‐modified mice may serve as a platform on which to test a variety of pharmacological agents in order to decrease diabetic vascular disease. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.