title: Epigenetic modifications and long noncoding RNAs influence pancreas development and function.
abstract: Insulin-producing β cells within the pancreatic islet of Langerhans are responsible for maintaining glucose homeostasis; the loss or malfunction of β cells results in diabetes mellitus. Recent advances in cell purification strategies and sequencing technologies as well as novel molecular tools have revealed that epigenetic modifications and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) represent an integral part of the transcriptional mechanisms regulating pancreas development and β cell function. Importantly, these findings have uncovered a new layer of gene regulation in the pancreas that can be exploited to enhance the restoration and/or repair of β cells to treat diabetes.
authors: Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Arnes
authors: Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: lgs2@columbia.edu.
authors: Lori
authors: L
authors: Sussel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D004707:Endoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding
keywords: epigenetic; islet; long noncoding RNAs; pancreas; β cells