A miR-194/PTBP1/CCND3 axis regulates tumor growth in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1 (PTBP1) is one of the most investigated multifunctional RNA-binding proteins (RBP), controlling almost all steps of mRNA metabolism and processing. It has been reported that PTBP1 is overexpressed in many different types of cancer and this high expression is associated with increased proliferation and poor prognoses. However, there are no reports on a putative role for PTBP1 in the molecular abnormalities and pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Cannabinoids Regulate Bcl-2 and Cyclin D2 Expression in Pancreatic β Cells.

Recent reports have shown that cannabinoid 1 receptors (CB1Rs) are expressed in pancreatic β cells, where they induce cell death and cell cycle arrest by directly inhibiting insulin receptor activation. Here, we report that CB1Rs regulate the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and cell cycle regulator cyclin D2 in pancreatic β cells. Treatment of MIN6 and βTC6 cells with a synthetic CB1R agonist, WIN55,212-2, led to a decrease in the expression of Bcl-2 and cyclin D2, in turn inducing cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase and caspase-3-dependent apoptosis.

RNA-binding protein HuD reduces triglyceride production in pancreatic β cells by enhancing the expression of insulin-induced gene 1.

Although triglyceride (TG) accumulation in the pancreas leads to β-cell dysfunction and raises the chance to develop metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes (T2DM), the molecular mechanisms whereby intracellular TG levels are regulated in pancreatic β cells have not been fully elucidated. Here, we present evidence that the RNA-binding protein HuD regulates TG production in pancreatic β cells. Mouse insulinoma βTC6 cells stably expressing a small hairpin RNA targeting HuD (shHuD) (βTC6-shHuD) contained higher TG levels compared to control cells.

Damage-associated molecular patterns and their pathological relevance in diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes, a group of metabolic and age-related diseases, is a major global health problem, the incidence of which has increased dramatically in recent decades. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a complex, T cell-mediated autoimmune disease characterized by immune cell infiltration and chronic inflammation in the islets of Langerhans. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) resulting from insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction.