title: Could microRNAs contribute to the maintenance of β cell identity?
abstract: Normal physiology depends on defined functional output of differentiated cells. However, differentiated cells are often surprisingly fragile. As an example, phenotypic collapse and dedifferentiation of β cells were recently discovered in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D). These discoveries necessitate the investigation of mechanisms that function to maintain robust cell type identity. microRNAs (miRNAs), which are small non-coding RNAs, are known to impart robustness to development. miRNAs are interlaced within networks, that include also transcriptional and epigenetic regulators, for continuous control of lineage-specific gene expression. In this Opinion article, we provide a framework for conceptualizing how miRNAs might participate in adult β cell identity and suggest that miRNAs may function as important genetic components in metabolic disorders, including diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
authors.forename: Haggai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaspi
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
authors.forename: Ronit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pasvolsky
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel. Electronic address: eran.hornstein@weizmann.ac.il.
authors.forename: Eran
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hornstein
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: cellular identity; dedifferentiation; diabetes; endocrine pancreas; miRNAs; β cells