ABSTRACT
Non-ischemic diabetic heart disease (NiDHD) is characterized by diastolic dysfunction and decreased or preserved systolic function, eventually resulting in heart failure. Accelerated apoptotic cell death because of alteration of molecular signaling pathways due to dysregulation in microRNAs (miRNAs) plays a significant role in the development of NiDHD. Here, we aimed to determine the pathological role of cardiomyocyte-enriched pro-apoptotic miR-320 in the development of NiDHD. We identified a marked upregulation of miR-320 that was associated with downregulation of its target protein insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in human right atrial appendage tissue in the late stages of cardiomyopathy in type 2 diabetic db/db mice and high-glucose-cultured human ventricular cardiomyocytes (AC-16 cells). In vitro knockdown of miR-320 in high-glucose-exposed AC-16 cells using locked nucleic acid (LNA) anti-miR-320 markedly reduced high-glucose-induced apoptosis by restoring IGF-1 and Bcl-2. Finally, in vivo knockdown of miR-320 in 24-week-old type 2 diabetic db/db mice reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and interstitial fibrosis while restoring vascular density. This resulted in partial recovery of the impaired diastolic and systolic function. Our study provides evidence that miR-320 is a late-responding miRNA that aggravates apoptosis and cardiac dysfunction in the diabetic heart, and that therapeutic knockdown of miR-320 is beneficial in partially restoring the deteriorated cardiac function.
ABSTRACT
Although most patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) continue to produce small amounts of insulin decades after disease onset, very few ß-cells persist within their pancreata. Consequently, the source of persistent insulin secretion within T1D remains unclear. We hypothesized that low-level insulin content within non-ß-cells could underlie persistent T1D insulin secretion. We tested for low levels of insulin (insulinlow) within a large cohort of JDRF Network for Pancreatic Organ Donors With Diabetes (nPOD) human pancreata across a wide range of ages and T1D disease durations. Long exposures, high-throughput imaging, and blinded parallel examiners allowed precise quantification of insulinlow cells. Of note, abundant islet endocrine cells with low quantities of insulin were present in most T1D pancreata. Insulinlow islet abundance and composition were not influenced by age, duration of diabetes, or age of onset. Insulinlow islets also contained ß-cell markers at variable levels, including Pdx1, Nkx6.1, GLUT1, and PC1/3. Most insulinlow cells contained abundant glucagon and other α-cell markers, suggesting that α-cells drive much of the insulinlow phenotype in T1D. However, pancreatic polypeptide, somatostatin, and ghrelin cells also contributed to the insulinlow cell population. Insulinlow cells represent a potential source of persistent insulin secretion in long-standing T1D and a possible target for regenerative therapies to expand ß-cell function in disease.
