Epigenetic regulation of the MEG3-DLK1 microRNA cluster in human Type 2 diabetic islets

ABSTRACT: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a multi-factorial disease characterized by the inability of beta-cells in the endocrine pancreas to produce sufficient amounts of insulin to overcome insulin resistance in peripheral tissue. To investigate the function of miRNAs in T2DM, we sequenced the small RNAs of human islets cells from diabetic and non-diabetic organ donors and identified a cluster of miRNAs in an imprinted locus on human chromosome 14 to be dramatically down-regulated in T2DM islets. These miRNAs are highly and specifically expressed in human beta-cells. The down-regulation of this imprinted locus strongly correlates with increased methylation of its promoter in T2DM islets, providing evidence for an epigenetic modification that contributes to the pathogenesis of T2DM. Targets of t

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

SUBMITTER: Jonathan Schug 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-52314 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress