Incretins and microRNAs: interactions and physiological relevance

Publication date: Available online 23 January 2020Source: Pharmacological ResearchAuthor(s): Shabnam Radbakhsh, Thozhukat Sathyapalan, Maciej Banach, Amirhossein SahebkarAbstractMicroRNAs (miRNA) are one class of the small regulatory RNAs that can impact the expression of numerous genes including incretin hormones and their G protein-coupled receptors. Incretin peptides, including GLP-1, GLP-2, and GIP, are released from the gastrointestinal tract and have an crucial role in the glucose hemostasis and pancreatic beta-cell function. These hormones and their analogs with a longer half-life, glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1RA), modify the expression of miRNAs. Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-4) is an enzyme that degrades the incretin hormones and is inactivated by DPP-4 inhibitors, which are a class of compounds used in the management of type 2 diabetes. DPP-4 inhibitors may also increase or reduce the expression of miRNAs. In this review, we describe the possible interactions between miRNAs and incretin hormones and the relevance of such interactions to physiological processes and diseases.Graphical abstract
Source: Pharmacological Research - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research