Therapeutic potential of miRNAs in diabetes mellitus

Abstract

miRNAs are major regulators of gene expression that are emerging as central players in the development of many human diseases, including diabetes mellitus. In fact, the manifestation of diabetes is associated with alterations in the miRNA profile in insulin-secreting cells, insulin target tissues and, in case of long-term diabetes complications, in many additional organs. Diabetes also results in changes in the profile of miRNAs detectable in blood and other body fluids. This has boosted an ever increasing interest in the use of circulating miRNAs as potential biomarkers to predict the development of diabetes and its devastating complications. Moreover, promising approaches to correct the level of selected miRNAs are emerging, permitting to envisage new therapeutic strategies to treat diabetes and its complications.

Keywords:

• adeno-associated virus
• biomarker
• diabetic complication
• diabetes mellitus
• gene expression
• insulin
• miRNA
• pancreatic islet

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Key issues

• miRNA are small non-coding RNAs that play an important role in the regulation of gene expression.

• Diabetes mellitus is associated with major alterations in the miRNA expression profile in insulin-secreting cells, insulin target tissues and several other organs in case of long-term micro- and macrovascular complications.

• miRNAs are also detectable in most biological fluids and their level is modified under prediabetic and diabetic conditions, suggesting that they may be useful to predict the manifestation of the disease and its complications.

• The level of specific miRNAs can be modulated in vivo using short chemically modified oligonucleotides or viral vectors, permitting to restore appropriate levels of the non-coding RNA and to prevent or treat diabetes.

• The recent advances in the analysis of circulating miRNAs and in the strategies permitting the modulation miRNA expression in relevant organs provide hope for better prevention and treatment of diabetes and its complications.

Notes