Application of microRNAs in diabetes mellitus.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small molecules negatively regulating gene expression by diminishing their target mRNAs. Emerging studies have shown that miRNAs play diverse roles in diabetes mellitus. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and T2D are two major types of diabetes. T1D is characterized by a reduction in insulin release from the pancreatic β-cells, while T2D is caused by islet β-cell dysfunction in response to insulin resistance. This review describes the miRNAs that control insulin release and production by regulating cellular membrane electrical excitability (ATP:ADP ratio), insulin granule exocytosis, insulin synthesis in β-cells, and β-cell fate and islet mass formation. This review also examines miRNAs involved the insulin resistance of liver, fat, and skeletal muscle, which change insulin sensitivity pathways (insulin receptors, glucose transporter type 4, and protein kinase B pathways). This review discusses the potential application of miRNAs in diabetes, including the use of gene therapy and therapeutic compounds to recover miRNA function in diabetes, as well as the role of miRNAs as potential biomarkers for T1D and T2D.
Li Ka Sing Faculty of MedicineSchool of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong KongDepartment of Medicine and TherapeuticsFaculty of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong KongCentre for Biosystems and Genome Network MedicineIoannina University, Ioannina, GreeceDepartment of Clinical OncologyQueen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Haiyong
H
Chen
Li Ka Sing Faculty of MedicineSchool of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong KongDepartment of Medicine and TherapeuticsFaculty of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong KongCentre for Biosystems and Genome Network MedicineIoannina University, Ioannina, GreeceDepartment of Clinical OncologyQueen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Hui-Yao
HY
Lan
Li Ka Sing Faculty of MedicineSchool of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong KongDepartment of Medicine and TherapeuticsFaculty of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong KongCentre for Biosystems and Genome Network MedicineIoannina University, Ioannina, GreeceDepartment of Clinical OncologyQueen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Dimitrios H
DH
Roukos
Li Ka Sing Faculty of MedicineSchool of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong KongDepartment of Medicine and TherapeuticsFaculty of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong KongCentre for Biosystems and Genome Network MedicineIoannina University, Ioannina, GreeceDepartment of Clinical OncologyQueen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong williamcscho@gmail.com.
William C
WC
Cho
D015415:Biomarkers; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000502:physiology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D007328:Insulin; D035683:MicroRNAs
T1D; T2D; diabetes; insulin resistance; microRNA