MiR-10b-5p Rescues Diabetes and Gastrointestinal Dysmotility. Gastroenterology Singh, R., Ha, S. E., Wei, L., Jin, B., Zogg, H., Poudrier, S. M., Jorgensen, B. G., Park, C., Ronkon, C. F., Bartlett, A., Cho, S., Morales, A., Chung, Y. H., Lee, M. Y., Park, J. K., Gottfried-Blackmore, A., Nguyen, L., Sanders, K. M., Ro, S. 2021

Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) and pancreatic beta cells require receptor tyrosine kinase (KIT) to develop and function properly. Degeneration of ICCs is linked to diabetic gastroparesis. The mechanisms linking diabetes and gastroparesis are unclear, but may involve miRNA mediated post-transcriptional gene silencing in KIT+ cells.METHODS: We performed miRNA-seq analysis from isolated ICCs in diabetic mice and plasma from patients with idiopathic and diabetic gastroparesis. miR-10b-5p target genes were identified and validated in mouse and human cell lines. For loss-of-function studies, we used KIT+ cell-restricted mir-10b knockout mice and KIT+ cell depletion mice. For gain-of-function studies, a synthetic miR-10b-5p mimic was injected in multiple diabetic mouse models. We compared the efficacy of miR-10b-5p mimic treatment vs. antidiabetic and prokinetic medicines.RESULTS: miR-10b-5p is highly expressed in ICCs from healthy mice, but drastically depleted in ICCs from diabetic mice. A conditional knockout of mir-10b in KIT+-cells or depletion of KIT+-cells in mice leads to degeneration of beta cells and ICCs, resulting in diabetes and gastroparesis. miR-10b-5p targets the transcription factor Kruppel-like factor 11 (KLF11), which negatively regulates KIT expression. The miR-10b-5p mimic or Klf11 siRNAs injected into mir-10b knockout mice, diet-induced diabetic mice, and TALLYHO polygenic diabetic mice rescues the diabetes and gastroparesis phenotype for an extended period of time. Furthermore, the miR-10b-5p mimic is more effective in improving glucose homoeostasis and GI motility as compared with common antidiabetic and prokinetic medications.CONCLUSIONS: miR-10b-5p is a key regulator in diabetes and gastrointestinal dysmotility via the KLF11-KIT pathway. Restoration of miR-10b-5p may provide therapeutic benefits for these disorders.

View details for DOI 10.1053/j.gastro.2020.12.062

View details for PubMedID 33421511