The Landscape of microRNAs in βCell: Between Phenotype Maintenance and Protection |
| |
| Authors: | Giuseppina Emanuela Grieco Noemi Brusco Giada Licata Daniela Fignani Caterina Formichi Laura Nigi Guido Sebastiani Francesco Dotta |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1.Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (G.E.G.); (N.B.); (G.L.); (D.F.); (C.F.); (L.N.); (G.S.);2.Fondazione Umberto Di Mario, c/o Toscana Life Sciences, 53100 Siena, Italy;3.Tuscany Centre for Precision Medicine (CReMeP), 53100 Siena, Italy |
| |
| Abstract: | Diabetes mellitus is a group of heterogeneous metabolic disorders characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia mainly due to pancreatic β cell death and/or dysfunction, caused by several types of stress such as glucotoxicity, lipotoxicity and inflammation. Different patho-physiological mechanisms driving β cell response to these stresses are tightly regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of negative regulators of gene expression, involved in pathogenic mechanisms occurring in diabetes and in its complications. In this review, we aim to shed light on the most important miRNAs regulating the maintenance and the robustness of β cell identity, as well as on those miRNAs involved in the pathogenesis of the two main forms of diabetes mellitus, i.e., type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Additionally, we acknowledge that the understanding of miRNAs-regulated molecular mechanisms is fundamental in order to develop specific and effective strategies based on miRNAs as therapeutic targets, employing innovative molecules. |
| |
| Keywords: | microRNAs β cell identity β cell function β cell dedifferentiation disallowed genes β cell protection |
|
|
