Obesity-induced upregulation of miR-483-5p impairs the function and identity of pancreatic β-cells

Diabetes Obes Metab. 2024 Oct;26(10):4510-4521. doi: 10.1111/dom.15805. Epub 2024 Jul 29.

Abstract

Aim: To assess the expression and function of miR-483-5p in diabetic β cells.

Methods: The expression of miR-483-5p was evaluated in the pancreatic islets of obesity mouse models by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Dual-luciferase activity, and western blotting assays, were utilized for miR-483-5p target gene verification. Mice with β cell-specific miR-483-5p downregulation were studied under metabolic stress (i.e. a high-fat diet) condition. Lineage tracing was used to determine β-cell fate.

Results: miR-483-5p increased in the islets of obese mouse models. Expression levels of miR-483-5p were significantly upregulated with the treatment of high glucose and palmitate, in both MIN6 cells and mouse islets. Overexpression of miR-483-5p in β cells results in impaired insulin secretion and β-cell identity. Cell lineage-specific analyses revealed that miR-483-5p overexpression deactivated β-cell identity genes (insulin, Pdx1 and MafA) and derepressed β-cell dedifferentiation (Ngn3) genes. miR-483-5p downregulation in β cells of high-fat diet-fed mice alleviated diabetes and improved glucose intolerance by enhancing insulin secretory capacity. These detrimental effects of miR-483-5p relied on its seed sequence recognition and repressed expression of its target genes Pdx1 and MafA, two crucial markers of β-cell maturation.

Conclusions: These findings indicate that the miR-483-5p-mediated reduction of mRNAs specifies β-cell identity as a contributor to β-cell dysfunction via the loss of cellular differentiation.

Keywords: miR‐483‐5p; obesity; type 2 diabetes; β‐cell function; β‐cell identity.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Diet, High-Fat / adverse effects
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Insulin Secretion
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells* / metabolism
  • Maf Transcription Factors, Large / genetics
  • Maf Transcription Factors, Large / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • MicroRNAs* / metabolism
  • Obesity* / genetics
  • Obesity* / metabolism
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation*

Substances

  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Insulin
  • Maf Transcription Factors, Large
  • Mafa protein, mouse
  • MicroRNAs
  • Mirn483 microRNA, mouse
  • pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 protein
  • Trans-Activators
  • MIRN483 microRNA, human