Roles of RNAkines in regulating glucose homeostasis

Researchers from Nanjing University have published a review in ExRNA, shedding light on the critical role of RNAkines in regulating glucose homeostasis. RNAkines are secreted non-coding RNAs that are mainly transported from the origin cells to the target cells through extracellular vesicles (EVs), participating in interorgan communication. This review summarizes the various organs involved in glucose homeostasis and their inter-organ crosstalk, and emphasizes the important role of RNAkines which is of great significance for both the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Diabetes is a metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia, in which type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) accounts for up to 90%. Currently, the global prevalence of T2DM is rising rapidly, and has caused a huge economic and social burden worldwide. "T2DM is characterized by elevated blood glucose levels and insulin resistance, and its pathogenesis mainly includes pancreatic β cell dysfunction and insulin resistance," explains Dr. Chen-Yu Zhang, co-author from Nanjing University. Glucose homeostasis regulation is the core of T2DM treatment, this review highlights a new signaling molecule, RNAkine, which has emerged as a critical regulator of glucose homeostasis.

RNAkines can be secreted by donor cells and taken by recipient cells mainly via extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are natural carrier systems that can transfer nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins, in autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine manners. "Unlike traditional signaling molecules (such as hormones, cytokines, and chemokines) that typically bind to receptors to exert their effects, RNAkines are a class of secreted non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), that act as endogenous RNAs in recipient cells, regulating multiple genes and simultaneously modulating them." notes co-author Dr. Jing Li.

At present, various RNAkines with therapeutic potential have been extensively studied in animal models. For example, in adipose tissue-specific DICER knockout (AdicerKO) mice, the disruption of miR-99b secretion results in higher expression of Fgf21 in the liver, thereby improving glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. The overexpression of miR-29s in the β cells of transgenic (TG) mice promoted the secretion of miR-29s and inhibited the insulin-mediated suppression of glucose output in the liver. "RNAkines have greatly expanded the signal transduction between tissues and have great potential in the diagnosis and treatment of T2DM," says Ye Wang, lead author.  

This review aims to summarize the role of multiple organs in regulating blood glucose homeostasis and the secretion factors involved, and emphasize the role of RNAkines. It provides insights into the potential of RNAkines as diagnostic and therapeutic agents in T2DM. "RNAkine has become increasingly prominent in regulating glucose homeostasis. In the future, RNAkines will bring great hope for the diagnosis and treatment of metabolic diseases such as T2DM." concludes Dr. Li.

This paper "Roles of RNAkines in regulating glucose homeostasis" was published in ExRNA.

Citation: Wang Y, Li J, Zhang C. Roles of RNAkines in regulating glucose homeostasis. ExRNA 2024(4):0019, https://doi.org/10.55092/exrna20240019.