First Author | Zhao X | Year | 2012 |
Journal | J Biol Chem | Volume | 287 |
Issue | 37 | Pages | 31155-64 |
PubMed ID | 22733810 | Mgi Jnum | J:345465 |
Mgi Id | MGI:6840087 | Doi | 10.1074/jbc.M112.362632 |
Citation | Zhao X, et al. (2012) MicroRNA-30d induces insulin transcription factor MafA and insulin production by targeting mitogen-activated protein 4 kinase 4 (MAP4K4) in pancreatic beta-cells. J Biol Chem 287(37):31155-64 |
abstractText | MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent small noncoding RNAs that play a role in many diseases, including diabetes. miRNAs target genes important for pancreas development, beta-cell proliferation, insulin secretion, and exocytosis. Previously, we documented that microRNA-30d (miR-30d), one of miRNAs up-regulated by glucose, induces insulin gene expression in pancreatic beta-cells. Here, we found that the induction of insulin production by overexpression of miR-30d is associated with increased expression of MafA, a beta-cell-specific transcription factor. Of interest, overexpression of miR-30d prevented the reduction in both MafA and insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2) with TNF-alpha exposure. Moreover, we identified that mitogen-activated protein 4 kinase 4 (MAP4K4), a TNF-alpha-activated kinase, is a direct target of miR-30d. Overexpression of miR-30d protected beta-cells against TNF-alpha suppression on both insulin transcription and insulin secretion through the down-regulation of MAP4K4 by the miR-30d. A decrease of miR-30d expression was observed in the islets of diabetic db/db mice, in which MAP4K4 expression level was elevated. Our data support the notion that miR-30d plays multiple roles in activating insulin transcription and protecting beta-cell functions from impaired by proinflammatory cytokines and underscore the concept that miR-30d may represent a novel pharmacological target for diabetes intervention. |