Therapeutic Potentials of MicroRNAs for Curing Diabetes Through Pancreatic β-Cell Regeneration or Replacement

Pancreas. 2020 Oct;49(9):1131-1140. doi: 10.1097/MPA.0000000000001655.

Abstract

MicroRNAs are a type of noncoding RNAs that regulates the expression of target genes at posttranscriptional level. MicroRNAs play essential roles in regulating the expression of different genes involved in pancreatic development, β-cell mass maintenance, and β-cell function. Alteration in the level of miRNAs involved in β-cell function leads to the diabetes. Being an epidemic, diabetes threatens the life of millions of patients posing a pressing demand for its urgent resolve. However, the currently available therapies are not substantial to cure the diabetic epidemic. Thus, researchers are trying to find new ways to replenish the β-cell mass in patients with diabetes. One promising approach is the in vivo regeneration of β-cell mass or increasing the efficiency of β-cell function. Another clinical strategy is the transplantation of in vitro developed β-like cells. Owing to their role in pancreatic β-cell development, maintenance, functioning and their involvement in diabetes, overexpression or attenuation of different miRNAs can cause β-cell regeneration in vivo or can direct the differentiation of various kinds of stem/progenitor cells to β-like cells in vitro. Here, we will summarize different strategies used by researchers to investigate the therapeutic potentials of miRNAs, with focus on miR-375, for curing diabetes through β-cell regeneration or replacement.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / genetics*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Humans
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / cytology
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / metabolism*
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / physiology
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Regeneration / genetics*
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / metabolism

Substances

  • MicroRNAs