Pre-Diabetes-Linked miRNA miR-193b-3p Targets PPARGC1A, Disrupts Metabolic Gene Expression Profile and Increases Lipid Accumulation in Hepatocytes: Relevance for MAFLD.

Distinct plasma microRNA profiles associate with different disease features and could be used to personalize diagnostics. Elevated plasma microRNA hsa-miR-193b-3p has been reported in patients with pre-diabetes where early asymptomatic liver dysmetabolism plays a crucial role. In this study, we propose the hypothesis that elevated plasma hsa-miR-193b-3p conditions hepatocyte metabolic functions contributing to fatty liver disease. We show that hsa-miR-193b-3p specifically targets the mRNA of its predicted target PPARGC1A/PGC1α and consistently reduces its expression in both normal and hyperglycemic conditions. PPARGC1A/PGC1α is a central co-activator of transcriptional cascades that regulate several interconnected pathways, including mitochondrial function together with glucose and lipid metabolism. Profiling gene expression of a metabolic panel in response to overexpression of microRNA hsa-miR-193b-3p revealed significant changes in the cellular metabolic gene expression profile, including lower expression of MTTP, MLXIPL/ChREBP, CD36, YWHAZ and GPT, and higher expression of LDLR, ACOX1, TRIB1 and PC. Overexpression of hsa-miR-193b-3p under hyperglycemia also resulted in excess accumulation of intracellular lipid droplets in HepG2 cells. This study supports further research into potential use of microRNA hsa-miR-193b-3p as a possible clinically relevant plasma biomarker for metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in dysglycemic context.

Integrator of Stress Responses Calmodulin Binding Transcription Activator 1 (Camta1) Regulates miR-212/miR-132 Expression and Insulin Secretion.

Altered microRNA profiles have been demonstrated in experimental models of type 2 diabetes, including in islets of the diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat. Our bioinformatic analysis of conserved sequences in promoters of microRNAs, previously observed to be up-regulated in GK rat islets, revealed putative CGCG-core motifs on the promoter of the miR-212/miR-132 cluster, overexpression of which has been shown to increase insulin secretion. These motifs are possible targets of calmodulin binding transcription activators Camta1 and Camta2 that have been recognized as integrators of stress responses. We also identified putative NKE elements, possible targets of NK2 homeobox proteins like the essential islet transcription factor Nkx2-2. As Camtas can function as co-activators with NK2 proteins in other tissues, we explored the role of Camta1, Camta2, and Nkx2-2 in the regulation of the miR-212/miR-132 cluster and insulin secretion. We demonstrate that exposure of control Wistar or GK rat islets to 16.7 mm glucose increases miR-212/miR-132 expression but significantly less so in the GK rat. In addition, Camta1, Camta2, and Nkx2-2 were down-regulated in GK rat islets, and knockdown of Camta1 reduced miR-212/miR-132 promoter activity and miR-212/miR-132 expression, even under cAMP elevation. Knockdown of Camta1 decreased insulin secretion in INS-1 832/13 cells and Wistar rat islets but increased insulin content. Furthermore, knockdown of Camta1 reduced K(+)-induced insulin secretion and voltage-dependent Ca(2+) currents. We also demonstrate Camta1 and Nkx2-2 protein interaction. These results indicate that Camta1 is required not only for expression of the miR-212/miR-132 cluster but at multiple levels for regulating beta cell insulin content and secretion.

Global genomic and transcriptomic analysis of human pancreatic islets reveals novel genes influencing glucose metabolism.

Genetic variation can modulate gene expression, and thereby phenotypic variation and susceptibility to complex diseases such as type 2 diabetes (T2D). Here we harnessed the potential of DNA and RNA sequencing in human pancreatic islets from 89 deceased donors to identify genes of potential importance in the pathogenesis of T2D. We present a catalog of genetic variants regulating gene expression (eQTL) and exon use (sQTL), including many long noncoding RNAs, which are enriched in known T2D-associated loci. Of 35 eQTL genes, whose expression differed between normoglycemic and hyperglycemic individuals, siRNA of tetraspanin 33 (TSPAN33), 5'-nucleotidase, ecto (NT5E), transmembrane emp24 protein transport domain containing 6 (TMED6), and p21 protein activated kinase 7 (PAK7) in INS1 cells resulted in reduced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. In addition, we provide a genome-wide catalog of allelic expression imbalance, which is also enriched in known T2D-associated loci. Notably, allelic imbalance in paternally expressed gene 3 (PEG3) was associated with its promoter methylation and T2D status. Finally, RNA editing events were less common in islets than previously suggested in other tissues. Taken together, this study provides new insights into the complexity of gene regulation in human pancreatic islets and better understanding of how genetic variation can influence glucose metabolism.

Loss of TFB1M results in mitochondrial dysfunction that leads to impaired insulin secretion and diabetes.

We have previously identified transcription factor B1 mitochondrial (TFB1M) as a type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk gene, using human and mouse genetics. To further understand the function of TFB1M and how it is associated with T2D, we created a ß-cell-specific knockout of Tfb1m, which gradually developed diabetes. Prior to the onset of diabetes, ß-Tfb1m(-/-) mice exhibited retarded glucose clearance owing to impaired insulin secretion. ß-Tfb1m(-/-) islets released less insulin in response to fuels, contained less insulin and secretory granules and displayed reduced ß-cell mass. Moreover, mitochondria in Tfb1m-deficient ß-cells were more abundant with disrupted architecture. TFB1M is known to control mitochondrial protein translation by adenine dimethylation of 12S ribosomal RNA (rRNA). Here, we found that the levels of TFB1M and mitochondrial-encoded proteins, mitochondrial 12S rRNA methylation, ATP production and oxygen consumption were reduced in ß-Tfb1m(-/-) islets. Furthermore, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to cellular stress were increased whereas induction of defense mechanisms was attenuated. We also show increased apoptosis and necrosis as well as infiltration of macrophages and CD4(+) cells in the islets. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that Tfb1m-deficiency in ß-cells caused mitochondrial dysfunction and subsequently diabetes owing to combined loss of ß-cell function and mass. These observations reflect pathogenetic processes in human islets: using RNA sequencing, we found that the TFB1M risk variant exhibited a negative gene-dosage effect on islet TFB1M mRNA levels, as well as insulin secretion. Our findings highlight the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in impairments of ß-cell function and mass, the hallmarks of T2D.