MicroRNAs and Pancreatic ß Cell Functional Modulation

Abstract

Recent reports of diabetes susceptibility loci located on the non-coding regions of the genome highlight the importance of epigenetic control in health and disease. Specifically, microRNAs have shown to have an important regulatory role in pancreatic ß cell physiology. Human studies implicated that ß cell mass and function are regulated by microRNAs in health and disease. Further, the microRNAs are also implicated in ensuing diabetic complications. Delineating the peculiar role of microRNAs in ß cell physiology and pathophysiology will fill the missing gaps in our current knowledge and help to devise better treatment regimens for diabetes. This chapter will discuss multiple effects of different microRNAs on the ß cell physiology in the context of maintenance and function in Type 2 diabetes mellitus.