MicroRNA-203a regulates pancreatic β cell proliferation and apoptosis by targeting IRS2

β-cell neogenesis: A rising star to rescue diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Diabetes Mellitus (DM), a chronic metabolic disease characterized by elevated blood glucose, is caused by various degrees of insulin resistance and dysfunctional insulin secretion, resulting in hyperglycemia. The loss and failure of functional β-cells are key mechanisms resulting in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

AIM OF REVIEW

Elucidating the underlying mechanisms of β-cell failure, and exploring approaches for β-cell neogenesis to reverse β-cell dysfunction may provide novel strategies for DM therapy.

KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW

Emerging studies reveal that genetic susceptibility, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, oxidative stress, islet inflammation, and protein modification linked to multiple signaling pathways contribute to DM pathogenesis. Over the past few years, replenishing functional β-cell by β-cell neogenesis to restore the number and function of pancreatic β-cells has remarkably exhibited a promising therapeutic approach for DM therapy. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the underlying mechanisms of β-cell failure in DM, highlight the effective approaches for β-cell neogenesis, as well as discuss the current clinical and preclinical agents research advances of β-cell neogenesis. Insights into the challenges of translating β-cell neogenesis into clinical application for DM treatment are also offered.

Non-coding RNAs in diabetes mellitus and diabetic cardiovascular disease

More than 10% of the world's population already suffers from varying degrees of diabetes mellitus (DM), but there is still no cure for the disease. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the most common and dangerous of the many health complications that can be brought on by DM, and has become the leading cause of death in people with diabetes. While research on DM and associated CVD is advancing, the specific mechanisms of their development are still unclear. Given the threat of DM and CVD to humans, the search for new predictive markers and therapeutic ideas is imminent. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been a popular subject of research in recent years. Although they do not encode proteins, they play an important role in living organisms, and they can cause disease when their expression is abnormal. Numerous studies have observed aberrant ncRNAs in patients with DM complications, suggesting that they may play an important role in the development of DM and CVD and could potentially act as biomarkers for diagnosis. There is additional evidence that treatment with existing drugs for DM, such as metformin, alters ncRNA expression levels, suggesting that regulation of ncRNA expression may be a key mechanism in future DM treatment. In this review, we assess the role of ncRNAs in the development of DM and CVD, as well as the evidence for ncRNAs as potential therapeutic targets, and make use of bioinformatics to analyze differential ncRNAs with potential functions in DM.

Beta Cell Physiological Dynamics and Dysfunctional Transitions in Response to Islet Inflammation in Obesity and Diabetes

Beta cells adapt their function to respond to fluctuating glucose concentrations and variable insulin demand. The highly specialized beta cells have well-established endoplasmic reticulum to handle their high metabolic load for insulin biosynthesis and secretion. Beta cell endoplasmic reticulum therefore recognize and remove misfolded proteins thereby limiting their accumulation. Beta cells function optimally when they sense glucose and, in response, biosynthesize and secrete sufficient insulin. Overnutrition drives the pathogenesis of obesity and diabetes, with adverse effects on beta cells. The interleukin signaling system maintains beta cell physiology and plays a role in beta cell inflammation. In pre-diabetes and compromised metabolic states such as obesity, insulin resistance, and glucose intolerance, beta cells biosynthesize and secrete more insulin, i.e., hyperfunction. Obesity is entwined with inflammation, characterized by compensatory hyperinsulinemia, for a defined period, to normalize glycemia. However, with chronic hyperglycemia and diabetes, there is a perpetual high demand for insulin, and beta cells become exhausted resulting in insufficient insulin biosynthesis and secretion, i.e., they hypofunction in response to elevated glycemia. Therefore, beta cell hyperfunction progresses to hypofunction, and may progressively worsen towards failure. Preserving beta cell physiology, through healthy nutrition and lifestyles, and therapies that are aligned with beta cell functional transitions, is key for diabetes prevention and management.