一个遗传性胰腺炎家系中新发现的胰蛋白酶原基因突变

对1个遗传性胰腺炎(hereditary pancreatitis, HP)家系中6例成员和120例无亲缘关系健康人的胰蛋白酶原基因(protease serine 1, PRSS1)进行PCR扩增, 产物纯化后测序, 结合受检者的血清肿瘤标志物、糖尿病相关生化指标以及近亲属的一般临床资料进行分析。结果发现4例家系成员PRSS1基因3号外显子区136位碱基存在C→T杂合性突变, 他们的基因型表现为野生型与突变型杂合现象, 另外在先证者PRSS1基因的3号外显子区171位碱基还存在着一个同义突变点(C→T), 而对照组和家系其他成员中未发现此两种突变, 突变阳性患者表现为乳酸、糖基化血红蛋白和糖类肿瘤标志物(CA19-9、CA125)增高。因此, PRSS1基因3号外显子区136位碱基C→T杂合性突变与该家系遗传性胰腺炎有关, 是该家系中遗传性胰腺炎的遗传易感因素。     

一例复合杂合性突变所致多发性内分泌腺瘤病1型的临床表现与基因型

目的分析1例多发性内分泌腺瘤病1型(MEN1)患者的临床特征和基因型,以期提高临床医生对本病的认识与诊断的准确性。方法分析患者病史、临床表现、实验室检查及影像学资料,并对MEN1基因进行扩增与测序。结果发现1例临床症状符合典型的多发性内分泌腺瘤病1型患者,基因测序鉴定本例患者的MEN1基因第9号外显子内存在同义突变,为c.1818位T→C(rs540012),第10号外显子存在两处复合杂合性突变,分别是c.2098位C→T(R527X,rs104894261),造成第527位氨基酸精氨酸(CGA)突变为终止密码子TGA;和c.2140位G→A(A541T,rs2959656),造成第541位丙氨酸(GCA)突变为苏氨酸(ACA)。结论本例患者表现了典型的多发性内分泌腺瘤病1型的临床症状与体征,遗传学分析进一步验证了患者携带MEN1基因的致病突变,提示根据临床表现结合基因学确诊本病的可靠性。     

在两个X连锁显性腓骨肌萎缩症家系中发现同一GJB1基因突变Glu208Lys

在两个X连锁显性腓骨肌萎缩症(Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, CMT) 家系中进行了GJB1基因的突变分析。提取基因组DNA, PCR(polymerase chain reaction)反应扩增GJB1基因编码序列, 进行单链构象多态性(single strand conformational polymorphism, SSCP)分析, 对有差异SSCP带型的PCR产物进行测序, 结果在两家系中发现同一GJB1基因c.622G→A (Glu208Lys)突变。所发现的突变位点在国内尚未报道。     

HLA-B*2736等位基因的序列分析

使用FLOW-SSO、PCR-SSP以及测序等分型技术, 发现一个与HLA-B*270401基因相关的未知基因。设计基因特异性引物单独扩增B*27基因的外显子2-5, 包括内含子2-4, 并进行双向测序, 分析与B*270401基因序列的差异。该基因的扩增产物为1 815 bp。与B*270401相比在外显子3和4共有10个碱基的改变, 从而使相应氨基酸发生错义或同义突变。碱基634 A→C (密码子130丝氨酸→精氨酸); 670 A→T (密码子142苏氨酸→丝氨酸); 683 G→T (密码子146色氨酸→亮氨酸); 698 A→T (密码子151谷氨酸→缬氨酸); 774 G→C (密码子176谷氨酸→天冬氨酸); 776 C→A (密码子177苏氨酸→赖氨酸); 781 C→G (密码子179谷氨酰胺→谷氨酸); 789 G→T (密码子181丙氨酸同义突变); 1 438 C→T (密码子206甘氨酸同义突变); 1 449 G→C (密码子210甘氨酸→丙氨酸)。在IMGT/HLA数据库中B*27组只有3个基因（B*270502 / 2706 / 2732）提交了内含子序列。该未知基因的内含子2序列与B*2706相同, 显示了与B*27组基因的同源性, 但其同源性在内含子3、4均未得到支持, 与B*27组基因相比, 内含子3的第106个碱基C→G, 碱基168缺失, 碱基179 G→A, 碱基536 G→A; 内含子4中碱基82 T→C。但其内含子3、4序列却与B*070201完全相同。该基因序列已提交GenBank, 编号为被DQ915176, 被WHO确认为HLA-B*2736等位基因。     

III型神经中丝蛋白基因与中国高度近视人群相关性的研究

为了检测peripherin基因（PRPH）的突变与高度近视的病因有无相关关系,采用PCR-SSCP检测180例中国人高度近视先证者及60例正常人中PRPH基因所有外显子有无突变;对有突变的外显子区域进行克隆测序。结果表明,分析180例高度近视先证者PRPH基因编码区9个外显子及其邻近内含子,分别发现有下列核苷酸改变：密码子21TTC→TTT(Phe21Phe、4/180),nt2138C→G（IVS3、1/180）,密码子277GCC→ACC（Ala277Thr、8/180）,密码子237CCA→TCA（Arg237stop、1/180）,密码子292GCG→GCA(Ala292Ala,1/180),密码子361CUG→CUC（Leu361Leu,12/180）,密码子369AAA→AAG（Lys369Lys,12/180）,nt3331G→C（IVS7、3/180）,其中GCC277ACC为错义突变（Ala277Thr）;CCA237TCA为无义突变（Arg237stop）;密码子361CUG→CUC,密码子369AAA→AAG属于同义突变并且相连锁。Ala277Thr突变尚存在于正常人群中（1/60）,亦存在于患者正常亲属中;Arg237stop仅见于一个常染色体隐性遗传家系的患者中,为杂合性突变。分析180例高度近视先证者PRPH基因,未发现致病突变,可排除PRPH基因与高度近视病因的相关性。在中国人群中PRPH基因有多种变异。 Variation of the Peripherin Gene in Chinese with or Without High Myopia LI Jiang1,ZHANG Qing-jiong1,FU Rong2,XIAO Xue-shan1,LI Jia-zhang3,ZHANG Feng-sheng4, LI Shi-qiang1,LI Wei5,LI Tuo3,JIA Xiao-yun1,GUO Li1,GUO Xiang-ming 1.Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center,Sun Yat-sen University,Guangzhou 510060,China; 2.Shenzhen Municipal People's Hospital,Shenzhen 518000,China; 3.Department of Opthalmolgy,The people's Hospital of Enshi Autonomous Prefecture,Enshi 445000,Hubei,China; 4.Chaoju Eye Hospital,Baotou,Inner Mongolia 014000,China; 5.Shenzhen 2nd People's Hopital,Shenzhen 518000,China Abstract:To analyze the relationship of the peripherin gene(PRPH,OMIM17071) mutations with high myopia,genomic DNA was collected from 180 probands with high myopia (≤-6.0 dipoters) and 60 unrelated persons without high myopia.The coding sequences of PRPH gene in 240 subjects were analyzed using exon-by-exon PCR-heteroduplex-SSCP analysis and sequencing.Variations at codon21TTC→TTT(Phe21Phe、4/180),nt2138C→G（IVS3、1/180）,codon277 GCC→ACC（Ala277Thr、8/180）,codon237 CCA→TCA （Arg237stop、1/180）,codon292CCG→CCA (Ala292Ala,1/180),codon361CUG→CUC（Leu361Leu,12/180）,codon369 AAA→AAG（Lys369Lys,12/180）,nt3331G→C（IVS7、3/180）were detected in a number of probands as indicated in the blanket.Of the 8 variations one( codon 277,G→A,Ala277Thr) is a missense mutation identified in 8 of the 180patients and one of 60 controls;The mutation of codon361 and codon 369were synonymous one and linkage each other;Another one(codon237,CCA→TCA,Arg237stop) is a heterozygous nonsense mutation identified in one patient with autosomal recessive inheritance mode population but not in the 60 normal controls.The others were synonymous mutations.Eight nucleotide variations were found in the PRPH gene.We found no evidence that mutations in the PRPH gene are responsible for the high myopia in Chinese. Key words：high myopia; peripherin gene; PCR-SSCP     

DNA池快速筛查牛STAM1基因SNPs及估算等位基因频率

目的:旨在对不同牛种STAM1基因进行SNPs筛查,为地方牛种选种选育提供一定理论依据.方法:选取生长发育性状明显差异的务川黑牛和贵州荷斯坦奶牛2个牛种构建DNA池,设计1对引物分别扩增2个牛种STAM1基因第14外显子序列总长898bp.切胶回收后对PCR产物进行双向测序.结果:在牛STAM1基因中快速筛查到5个SNPs:A33C、C66G、C356T、T523A、T652C,其中A33C(Tyr→Ser)、C66G(Pro→Arg)、C356T(Glu→Lys)为错义突变,T523A为同义突变,T652C位于内含子区.贵州荷斯坦奶牛在T523A和T652C两个位点基因频率为1.0000,而务川黑牛分别为0.6730和0.8106.生物信息学分析表明:突变前后STAM1的RNA二级结构和蛋白质二级、三级结构均有明显改变.结论:DNA池结合测序技术可快速筛选SNP位点,检测到STAM1基因第14外显子5个SNPs.     

乐至黑山羊PRLR基因外显子10多态性与产羔数的关系研究

设计2对特异性引物对乐至黑山羊PRLR基因第10外显子进行了PCR-SSCP检测,并研究该基因与产子性能的相关性。结果表明,P1引物扩增片段不存在多态性;P2引物扩增片段存在多态性,表现为AA,AB,AD和CD 4种基因型,测序结果表明,4种基因型都在该片段第89、94、146和157位存在C→T、A→C、C→G、G→C的突变;此外AA型还在61位发生C→T的突变;AD型还在175位发生A→G的突变;CD型还在24位发生T→C的突变,96位发生C→T的突变,通过统计分析发现AD型平均产羔数优于其他3种基因型,并且与AB型差异达到显著水平(P<0.05)。因此认为PRLR基因对于乐至黑山羊产子性能有一定的影响。     

GCK基因和HNF-1α基因突变的研究

目的:研究一典型的青少年发病的成人型糖尿病家系并研究其基因突变位点。方法:以1个典型MODY家系的7名成员为研究对象,同时以10名无糖尿病家族史的普通2型糖尿病患者和10名健康人员为2个对照组。抽取外周血,分离白细胞,用快速盐析法提取基因组DNA,以基因组DNA为模板对HNF-1α基因的4号、2号和6号外显子和GCK基因的1号外显子进行PCR扩增,扩增产物经纯化后直接进行序列测定,并分别和各自的正常序列进行比较。结果:7名MODY家系成员HNF-1α2号外显子上游的内含子均存在一碱基G→A置换,即IVS2nt-42 G-A;4例存在HNF-1α6号外显子P380fsinsG移码突变,其中1例合并P379S点突变和IVS6nt-4G-A突变;1例存在P379S点突变;2例未发现突变和多态性。GCK基因的1号外显子及其内含子均未发现有突变或多态性。20名对照组成员均未发现有GCK1号外显子和HNF-1α2、4、6号外显子及其内含子的突变。结论:本家系是HNF-1α基因的6号外显子及其上游内含子突变(移码突变和/或点突变)和2号外显子上游内含子的一个碱基突变,该家系MODY属于MODY3。     

中国汉族两个马凡综合征家系FBN1基因的一个新插入突变和一个复发点突变

目的:明确两个中国北方汉族马凡综合征(Marfan syndrome,MFS)家系的临床特点,并对其进行基因诊断。方法:对两个家系进行家系调查和系谱分析,应用聚合酶链式反应-DNA测序方法对原纤维蛋白1基因(Fibrillin-1,FBN1)的所有外显子进行测序。应用Swiss-model、Polyphen-2和SIFT软件对发现的变异位点进行功能预测。结果:两个家系均呈常染色显性遗传特点,在家系1患者中发现一个新的插入突变,即第13外显子1691位碱基处插入碱基A(1691 ins A),导致蛋白在第571位氨基酸处翻译提前终止。此外,在家系2患者中发现一个已知的点突变,即第27外显子第3463位碱基由G变为A(3463 GA),导致第1155位氨基酸由天冬氨酸变为天冬酰胺。这两个变异位点在家系的健康人及50例健康对照中均未出现。功能预测发现这两个变异位点均可能会影响FBN1蛋白的结构或功能。结论:在两个MFS家系中发现一个新插入突变位点(1691 ins A)和一个已知点突变位点(3463 GA),为扩大FBN1基因的突变谱及进一步阐明FBN1基因突变在MFS中的作用提供理论依据。     

家族性高胆固醇血症患者低密度脂蛋白受体基因复合杂合突变分析

目的:对1例临床确诊为纯合型家族性高胆固醇血症(FH)先证者及其核心家系成员进行基因检测分析,探讨患儿发病的分子病理基础.方法:收集先证者及父母血标本及临床资料,酚氯仿法提取基因组DNA,DNA直接测序方法检测低密度脂蛋白受体(LDL-R)基因18个外显子和启动子及载脂蛋白B(ApoB100)R3500Q位点,核苷酸序列分析结果与Gen Bank比对寻找突变.结果:(1)先证者三尖瓣轻度关闭不全,先证者父母双侧颈总动脉内-中膜增厚,先证者母亲左侧颈内动脉起始处后壁多发混合回声斑块(2)该家系排除ApoB100基因R3500Q突变;(3)先证者LDL-R基因第13外显子发生A606T和D601Y复合杂合突变,前者第1879位G→A碱基置换,导致丙氨酸改变为苏氨酸,后者为1864位G>T碱基置换,导致天冬氨酸改变为酪氨酸,其父为携带A606T突变的杂合子,其母为携带D601Y突变的杂合子.结论:先证者LDL-R基因存在A606T和D601Y复合杂合突变,它们分别来源于父系及母系遗传.     

Molecular pathology and evolutionary and physiological implications of pancreatitis-associated cationic trypsinogen mutations

Since the identification in 1996 of a "gain of function" missense mutation, R122H, in the cationic trypsinogen gene (PRSS1) as a cause of hereditary pancreatitis, continued screening of this gene in both hereditary and sporadic pancreatitis has found more disease-associated missense mutations than expected. In addition, functional analysis has yielded interesting findings regarding their underlying mechanisms resulting in a gain of trypsin. A critical review of these data, in the context of the complicated biogenesis and complex autoactivation and autolysis of trypsin(ogen), highlights that PRSS1 mutations cause the disease by various mechanisms depending on which biochemical process they affect. The discovery of these mutations also modifies the classical perception of the disease and, more importantly, reveals fascinating new aspects of the molecular evolution and normal physiology of trypsinogen. First, activation peptide of trypsinogen is under strong selection pressure to minimize autoactivation in higher vertebrates. Second, the R122 primary autolysis site has further evolved in mammalian trypsinogens. Third, evolutionary divergence from threonine to asparagine at residue 29 in human cationic trypsinogen provides additional advantage. Accordingly, we tentatively assign, in human cationic trypsinogen, the strongly selected activation peptide as the first-line and the R122 autolysis site as the second-line of the built-in defensive mechanisms against premature trypsin activation within the pancreas, respectively, and the positively selected asparagine at residue 29 as an "amplifier" to the R122 "fail-safe" mechanism.     

Hereditary pancreatitis caused by a double gain-of-function trypsinogen mutation

Hereditary pancreatitis, an autosomal dominant disease with ∼80% penetrance, can be caused by both ‘gain-of-function’ missense and copy number mutations in the cationic trypsinogen gene (PRSS1). Here we demonstrate a heterozygous hybrid PRSS2 (encoding anionic trypsinogen)/PRSS1 gene in a French white family with hereditary pancreatitis, by means of quantitative fluorescent multiplex PCR and RT-PCR analyses. The hybrid gene, in which exons 1 and 2 are derived from PRSS2 and exons 3–5 from PRSS1, apparently resulted from a non-allelic homologous recombination (NAHR) event between the chromosome 7 homologs or sister chromatids during meiosis. Interestingly, this hybrid gene causes the disease through a combination of its inherent ‘double gain-of-function’ effect, acting simultaneously as a ‘quantitative’ copy number mutation and a ‘qualitative’ missense mutation (i.e. the known disease-causing p.N29I mutation). Our finding reveals a previously unknown mechanism causing human inherited disease, enriches the lexicon of human genetic variation and goes beyond the known interaction between copy number variations (CNVs) and single nucleotide substitutions in health and disease. Our finding should also stimulate more interest in analyzing both types of genetic variation whenever one tries to determine the contribution of a specific locus to a given disease phenotype. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Hereditary pancreatitis caused by a novel PRSS1 mutation (Arg-122 --> Cys) that alters autoactivation and autodegradation of cationic trypsinogen.

Hereditary pancreatitis has been found to be associated with germline mutations in the cationic trypsinogen (PRSS1) gene. Here we report a family with hereditary pancreatitis that carries a novel PRSS1 mutation (R122C). This mutation cannot be diagnosed with the conventional screening method using AflIII restriction enzyme digest. We therefore propose a new assay based on restriction enzyme digest with BstUI, a technique that permits detection of the novel R122C mutation in addition to the most common R122H mutation, and even in the presence of a recently reported neutral polymorphism that prevents its detection by the AflIII method. Recombinantly expressed R122C mutant human trypsinogen was found to undergo greatly reduced autoactivation and cathepsin B-induced activation, which is most likely caused by misfolding or disulfide mismatches of the mutant zymogen. The K(m) of R122C trypsin was found to be unchanged, but its k(cat) was reduced to 37% of the wild type. After correction for enterokinase activatable activity, and specifically in the absence of calcium, the R122C mutant was more resistant to autolysis than the wild type and autoactivated more rapidly at pH 8. Molecular modeling of the R122C mutant trypsin predicted an unimpaired active site but an altered stability of the calcium binding loop. This previously unknown trypsinogen mutation is associated with hereditary pancreatitis, requires a novel diagnostic screening method, and, for the first time, raises the question whether a gain or a loss of trypsin function participates in the onset of pancreatitis.     

Alstrom syndrome (OMIM 203800): a case report and literature review

Hereditary chronic pancreatitis (HCP) is a very rare form of early onset chronic pancreatitis. With the exception of the young age at diagnosis and a slower progression, the clinical course, morphological features and laboratory findings of HCP do not differ from those of patients with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis. As well, diagnostic criteria and treatment of HCP resemble that of chronic pancreatitis of other causes. The clinical presentation is highly variable and includes chronic abdominal pain, impairment of endocrine and exocrine pancreatic function, nausea and vomiting, maldigestion, diabetes, pseudocysts, bile duct and duodenal obstruction, and rarely pancreatic cancer. Fortunately, most patients have a mild disease. Mutations in the PRSS1 gene, encoding cationic trypsinogen, play a causative role in chronic pancreatitis. It has been shown that the PRSS1 mutations increase autocatalytic conversion of trypsinogen to active trypsin, and thus probably cause premature, intrapancreatic trypsinogen activation disturbing the intrapancreatic balance of proteases and their inhibitors. Other genes, such as the anionic trypsinogen (PRSS2), the serine protease inhibitor, Kazal type 1 (SPINK1) and the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) have been found to be associated with chronic pancreatitis (idiopathic and hereditary) as well. Genetic testing should only be performed in carefully selected patients by direct DNA sequencing and antenatal diagnosis should not be encouraged. Treatment focuses on enzyme and nutritional supplementation, pain management, pancreatic diabetes, and local organ complications, such as pseudocysts, bile duct or duodenal obstruction. The disease course and prognosis of patients with HCP is unpredictable. Pancreatic cancer risk is elevated. Therefore, HCP patients should strongly avoid environmental risk factors for pancreatic cancer.     

Increased activation of hereditary pancreatitis-associated human cationic trypsinogen mutants in presence of chymotrypsin C

Mutations in human cationic trypsinogen (PRSS1) cause autosomal dominant hereditary pancreatitis. Increased intrapancreatic autoactivation of trypsinogen mutants has been hypothesized to initiate the disease. Autoactivation of cationic trypsinogen is proteolytically regulated by chymotrypsin C (CTRC), which mitigates the development of trypsin activity by promoting degradation of both trypsinogen and trypsin. Paradoxically, CTRC also increases the rate of autoactivation by processing the trypsinogen activation peptide to a shorter form. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of CTRC on the autoactivation of clinically relevant trypsinogen mutants. We found that in the presence of CTRC, trypsinogen mutants associated with classic hereditary pancreatitis (N29I, N29T, V39A, R122C, and R122H) autoactivated at increased rates and reached markedly higher active trypsin levels compared with wild-type cationic trypsinogen. The A16V mutant, known for its variable disease penetrance, exhibited a smaller increase in autoactivation. The mechanistic basis of increased activation was mutation-specific and involved resistance to degradation (N29I, N29T, V39A, R122C, and R122H) and/or increased N-terminal processing by CTRC (A16V and N29I). These observations indicate that hereditary pancreatitis is caused by CTRC-dependent dysregulation of cationic trypsinogen autoactivation, which results in elevated trypsin levels in the pancreas.     

Presence of cathepsin B in the human pancreatic secretory pathway and its role in trypsinogen activation during hereditary pancreatitis

The lysosomal cysteine protease cathepsin B is thought to play a central role in intrapancreatic trypsinogen activation and the onset of experimental pancreatitis. Recent in vitro studies have suggested that this mechanism might be of pathophysiological relevance in hereditary pancreatitis, a human inborn disorder associated with mutations in the cationic trypsinogen gene. In the present study evidence is presented that cathepsin B is abundantly present in the secretory compartment of the human exocrine pancreas, as judged by immunogold electron microscopy. Moreover, pro-cathepsin B and mature cathepsin B are both secreted together with trypsinogen and active trypsin into the pancreatic juice of patients with sporadic pancreatitis or hereditary pancreatitis. Finally, cathepsin B- catalyzed activation of recombinant human cationic trypsinogen with hereditary pancreatitis-associated mutations N29I, N29T, or R122H were characterized. In contrast to a previous report, cathepsin B-mediated activation of wild type and all three mutant trypsinogen forms was essentially identical under a wide range of experimental conditions. These observations confirm the presence of active cathepsin B in the human pancreatic secretory pathway and are consistent with the notion that cathepsin B-mediated trypsinogen activation might play a pathogenic role in human pancreatitis. On the other hand, the results clearly demonstrate that hereditary pancreatitis-associated mutations do not lead to increased or decreased trypsinogen activation by cathepsin B. Therefore, mutation-dependent alterations in cathepsin B-induced trypsinogen activation are not the cause of hereditary pancreatitis.     

Discrimination of three mutational events that result in a disruption of the R122 primary autolysis site of the human cationic trypsinogen (PRSS1) by denaturing high performance liquid chromatography

Background  

R122, the primary autolysis site of the human cationic trypsinogen (PRSS1), constitutes an important "self-destruct" or "fail-safe" defensive mechanism against premature trypsin activation within the pancreas. Disruption of this site by a missense mutation, R122H, was found to cause hereditary pancreatitis. In addition to a c.365G>A (CGC>CAC) single nucleotide substitution, a c.365~366GC>AT (CGC>CAT) gene conversion event in exon 3 of PRSS1 was also found to result in a R122H mutation. This imposes a serious concern on the genotyping of pancreatitis by a widely used polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay, which could only detect the commonest c.365G>A variant.     

Origin and implication of the hereditary pancreatitis-associated N21I mutation in the cationic trypsinogen gene

The N21I missense mutation in the cationic trypsinogen gene is the second most frequent mutation in hereditary pancreatitis (HP). In this article, we suggest that the N21I mutation most likely arose as a gene conversion event in which the functional anionic trypsinogen gene acted as the donor sequence. This hypothesis is supported by the unique presence of Ile at residue 21 of the anionic gene amongst the several highly homologous trypsinogen genes; a single unbroken tract of nucleotides of up to 113 bp flanking the I21 residue in the anionic trypsinogen gene; and the presence of a chi-like sequence in the 5' proximity and a palindromic sequence in the 3' vicinity of the N21I mutation. Furthermore, a multiple alignment of the partial amino acid sequence of vertebrate trypsins around residue 21 indicated that N21 and I21 may represent advantageously selected mutations of the two functional human trypsinogen genes in evolutionary history. These observations, which are complementary to the previous findings, provide further insights into the genetic mechanism and pathogenic role of the N21I mutation in HP.     

Quantitative Trait Locus Analysis for Chronic Pancreatitis and Diabetes Mellitus in the WBN/Kob Rat

A causative gene mutation is still undefined in approximately half of patients with hereditary pancreatitis, and no genetic factor has been identified in most patients with sporadic chronic pancreatitis. To identify a pancreatitis-associated gene, we performed a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis for the traits of chronic pancreatitis and diabetes mellitus in WBN/Kob rats. We identified two highly significant QTLs for chronic pancreatitis and/or hyperinsulinemia on chromosomes 7 and X. These QTLs were located on completely different chromosomal regions from those of causative genes that have been reported for human chronic pancreatitis: PRSS1, CFTR, and SPINK1. For these QTLs, prevalences of the WBN/Kob allele significantly increased in the rats with chronic pancreatitis. These findings indicate that chronic pancreatitis in WBN/Kob rats is controlled by multiple genes, and a genetic analysis in WBN/Kob rats might be useful for gene targeting for human chronic pancreatitis.