DRI Identifies Gene that May Increase Numbers of Insulin-Producing Cells
Background:
MicroRNAs are tiny genes that regulate key biological processes in our bodies, such as cell growth and the development of stem cells into functional, adult cells.
Research Focus:
A team of researchers here at the DRI identified a subset of these genes, called miRNA-7, which appear 200 times more frequently in insulin-producing islets than in other non-islet tissue of the pancreas.
As a result, these miRNA-7 are believed to be involved in:
- Expanding the number of islets
- Increasing insulin production
By better understanding miRNA-7 and the role it may play in promoting cell expansion and regulating insulin production, we may identify new strategies for clinical therapies in the treatment of diabetes.
In a related area of work, a preliminary study conducted by the DRI showed that patients with type 1 diabetes had a dramatic increase of a specific miRNA compared to those without diabetes. While limited to five families, the findings suggest that miRNAs may be a powerful marker to predict the development of type 1 diabetes.
Leading to a Cure: How this Research Supports our Mission
These diabetes research studies will help identify how genes regulate islet development and will provide tools for new treatment strategies. They may also lead to the predictability of the onset of diabetes.