Downregulation of miR-139-5p contributes to the antiapoptotic effect of liraglutide on the diabetic rat pancreas and INS-1 cells by targeting IRS1

Selenium Biofortification Enhanced miR167a Expression in Broccoli Extracellular Vesicles Inducing Apoptosis in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells by Targeting IRS1

Purpose

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) presents an extremely high morbidity and mortality rate. Broccoli has excellent anti-cancer properties. However, the dosage and serious side effects still limit the application of broccoli and its derivatives for cancer therapy. Recently, extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from plants are emerging as novel therapeutic agents. Thus, we conducted this study to determine the effectiveness of EVs isolated from Se-riched broccoli (Se-BDEVs) and conventional broccoli (cBDEVs) for the treatment of PAAD.

Methods

In this study, we first isolated Se-BDEVs and cBDEVs by a differential centrifugation method, and characterized them by using nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Then, miRNA-seq was combined with target genes prediction, and functional enrichment analysis to reveal the potential function of Se-BDEVs and cBDEVs. Finally, the functional verification was conducted in PANC-1 cells.

Results

Se-BDEVs and cBDEVs exhibited similar characteristics in size and morphology. Subsequent miRNA-seq revealed the expression of miRNAs in Se-BDEVs and cBDEVs. Using a combination of miRNA target prediction and KEGG functional analysis, we found miRNAs in Se-BDEVs and cBDEVs may play an important role in treating pancreatic cancer. Indeed, our in vitro study showed that Se-BDEVs had greater anti-PAAD potency than cBDEVs due to increased bna-miR167a_R-2 (miR167a) expression. Transfection with miR167a mimics significantly induced apoptosis of PANC-1 cells. Mechanistically, further bioinformatics analysis showed that IRS1, which is involved in the PI3K-AKT pathway, is the key target gene of miR167a.

Conclusion

This study highlights the role of miR167a transported by Se-BDEVs which could be a new tool for counteracting tumorigenesis.

MicroRNA-139-5p mediates BMSCs impairment in diabetes by targeting HOXA9/c-Fos

The properties and functions of BMSCs were altered by the diabetic microenvironment, and its mechanism was not very clear. In recent years, the regulation of the function of BMSCs by microRNA has become a research hotspot, meanwhile, HOX genes also have been focused on and involved in multiple functions of stem cells. In this study, we investigated the role of miR-139-5p in diabetes-induced BMSC impairment. Since HOXA9 may be a target gene of miR-139-5p, we speculated that miR-139-5p/HOXA9 might be involved in regulating the biological characteristics and the function of BMSCs in diabetes. We demonstrated that the miR-139-5p expression was increased in BMSCs derived from STZ-induced diabetic rats. MiR-139-5p mimics were able to inhibit cell proliferation, and migration and promoted senescence and apoptosis in vitro. MiR-139-5p induced the down-regulated expression of HOXA9 and c-Fos in BMSCs derived from normal rats. Moreover, miR-139-5p inhibitors reversed the tendency in diabetic-derived BMSCs. Further, gain-and-loss function experiments indicated that miR-139-5p regulated the functions of BMSCs by targeting HOXA9 and c-Fos. In vivo wound model experiments showed that the downregulation of miR-139-5p further promoted the epithelialization and angiogenesis of diabetic BMSC-mediated skin. In conclusion, induction of miR-139-5p upregulation mediated the impairment of BMSCs through the HOXA9/c-Fos pathway in diabetic rats. Therefore, miR-139-5p/HOXA9 might be an important therapeutic target in treating diabetic BMSCs and diabetic complications in the future.

Circulating microRNAs Showed Specific Responses according to Metabolic Syndrome Components and Sex of Adults from a Population-Based Study

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate several metabolic pathways and are potential biomarkers for early risk prediction of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Our aim was to evaluate the levels of 21 miRNAs in plasma according to MetS components and sex in adults. We employed a cross-sectional study of 192 adults aged 20 to 59 years old from the 2015 Health Survey of São Paulo with Focus in Nutrition. Data showed reduced levels of miR-16 and miR-363 in women with MetS; however, men with one or more risk factors showed higher levels of miR-let-7c and miR-30a. Individuals with raised waist circumference showed higher levels of miR-let-7c, miR-122, miR-30a, miR-146a, miR-15a, miR-30d and miR-222. Individuals with raised blood pressure had higher miR-30a, miR-122 and miR-30a levels. Plasma levels of four miRNAs (miR-16, miR-363, miR-375 and miR-486) were lower in individuals with low HDL-cholesterol concentrations. In addition, plasma levels of five miRNAs (miR-122, miR-139, miR-let-7c, miR-126 and miR-30a) were increased in individuals with high fasting plasma glucose and/or insulin resistance. Our results suggest that the pattern of miRNA levels in plasma may be a useful early biomarker of cardiometabolic components of MetS and highlight the sex differences in the plasma levels of miRNAs in individuals with MetS.

MicroRNA-139-5p Alleviates High Glucose-Triggered Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Injury by Targeting LIM-Only Factor 4

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a type of diabetes complication, which can result in loss of vision in adults worldwide. Increasing evidence has revealed that microRNAs (miRs) can regulate DR progression. Thus, the present study was aimed at assessing the possible mechanism of miR-139-5p in high glucose- (HG-) incubated retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cells. The present results demonstrated that miR-139-5p expression was notably reduced in the serum samples of patients with DR, as well as in ARPE-19 cells treated with HG in a time-dependent manner. Moreover, miR-139-5p was markedly overexpressed by transfection of miR-139-5p mimics into ARPE-19 cells. Overexpression of miR-139-5p markedly induced cell viability and repressed HG-triggered apoptosis. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-139-5p relived HG-enhanced oxidative stress injury. It was found that HG induced malondialdehyde levels but decreased superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in ARPE-19 cells. In addition, overexpression of miR-139-5p could markedly decrease intracellular stress. The results demonstrated that overexpression of miR-139-5p effectively repressed HG-activated inflammation, as indicated by the upregulation of inflammation cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-6, and Cox-2, in ARPE-19 cells. Subsequently, it was identified that LIM-only factor 4 (LMO4) could act as a downstream target for miR-139-5p. LMO4 expression was significantly increased in patients with DR and HG-treated ARPE-19 cells. Mechanistically, knockdown of LMO4 reversed the biological role of miR-139-5p in proliferation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and release of inflammation factors in vitro. Collectively, these results suggested that miR-139-5p significantly decreased ARPE-19 cell injury caused by HG by inducing proliferation and suppressing cell apoptosis, oxidant stress, and inflammation by modulating LMO4.

miR-139-5p mediates the palmitate-induced inhibition of insulin secretion by targeting neuronal pentraxin 1 in INS-1 cells

High fatty acid reduces insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells and miR-139-5p is increased in diabetic pancreatic tissues and induces islet β-cell apoptosis. However, to date, there is no study exploring whether or not miR-139-5p is involved in high fatty acid-induced insulin secretion. In the present study, INS-1 cells were exposed to different concentrations (0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 mM) of palmitate for different time periods (12, 24, and 48 h). The expression levels of miR-139-5p and neuronal pentraxin 1 (NPTX1) were evaluated by real-time PCR and western blot analysis. The regulation of NPTX1 by miR-139-5p was examined by luciferase assay. Cell transfection was conducted using Lipo8000 or Lipofectamine RNAiMAX. Potassium or glucose-stimulated insulin secretion levels were used to verify the function of miR-139-5p or NPTX1 in insulin secretion. Insulin secretion levels were detected by radioimmunoassay. We found that miR-139-5p was increased in INS-1 cells stimulated with palmitate. In addition, miR-139-5p was also elevated in islets of high-fat diet-fed mice and db/db mice compared to those in islets of normal diet-fed mice and wild-type mice. Knockdown of miR-139-5p could reverse high fatty acid-induced insulin secretion defects in INS-1 cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that NPTX1 is a target of miR-139-5p. miR-139-5p mediated palmitate-induced insulin secretion defects by targeting NPTX1. Moreover, palmitate treatment declined the expression of NPTX1 and the NPTX1 expression was also decreased in islets of high-fat diet-fed mice and db/db mice. Impaired NPTX1 expression is involved in fatty acid-induced insulin secretion defects. Collectively, our results illustrate that the induction of β-cell insulin secretion defects by fatty acids is mediated, at least in part, by miR-139-5p via downregulation of NPTX1 expression.

Effects of physical activity on cell-to-cell communication during type 2 diabetes: A focus on miRNA signaling

Type 2 diabetes (TD2) is a progressive disease characterized by hyperglycemia that results from alteration in insulin secretion, insulin resistance, or both. A number of alterations involving different tissues and organs have been reported to the development and the progression of T2D, and more relevantly, through cell-to-cell communication pathways. Recent studies demonstrated that miRNAs are considerably implicated to cell-to-cell communication during T2D. Physical activity (PA) is associated with decreasing risks of developing T2D and acts as insulin-like factor. Cumulative evidence suggests that this effect could be mediated in part through improving insulin sensitivity in T2D and obese patients and modulating miRNAs synthesis and release in healthy patients. Therefore, the practice of PA should ideally be established before the initiation of T2D. This review describes cell-to-cell communications involved in the pathophysiology of T2D during PA.

Implication of miR-126 and miR-139-5p in Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Dysregulation in Systemic Sclerosis

Compelling evidence shows the involvement of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) pathogenesis. This study investigated whether microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the dysregulation of pDCs in SSc patients already at early stages. RNA from circulating pDCs was isolated from two independent cohorts of SSc patients with different disease phenotypes, and individuals with Raynaud’s phenomenon, for microRNA profiling and RNA-sequencing analysis. Proteomic analysis was exploited to identify novel direct miRNA targets at the protein level. Twelve and fifteen miRNAs were differentially expressed in at least one group of patients compared to healthy controls in discovery cohort I and II, respectively. Of note, miR-126 and miR-139-5p were upregulated in both preclinical and definite SSc patients and correlated with the expression of type I interferon (IFN)-responsive genes. Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) stimulation of healthy pDCs upregulated the expression of both miRNAs, similarly to what was observed in patients. The proteomic analysis identified USP24 as a novel target of miR-139-5p. The expression level of USP24 was inversely correlated with miR-139-5p expression in SSc patients and induced by TLR9 stimulation in healthy pDCs. These findings demonstrated that the miRNA profile is altered in pDCs of SSc patients already at early stages of the disease and indicate their potential contribution to pDC activation observed in patients.

Vildagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, attenuated endothelial dysfunction through miRNAs in diabetic rats

INTRODUCTION

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors have various cellular effects that are associated with vascular protection. Here, we examined whether vildagliptin protected endothelial function in diabetic rats and explored the involved mechanism.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Experimental diabetic rats were obtained by feeding a high-fat diet and administering an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Rats were randomly divided into four groups: controls (CON), diabetes (DM), diabetes + low dose of vildagliptin (Lvil, 10 mg/kg/day), and diabetes + high dose of vildagliptin (Hvil, 20 mg/kg/day). The metabolic parameters, endothelial function, and whole miRNA expression were measured.

RESULTS

After a 12-week treatment, vildagliptin-treated rats showed a significant reduction in blood glucose and blood lipid levels. Moreover, vildagliptin recovered aortic endothelial function in diabetic rats. We identified 31 miRNAs that were differentially expressed in the Hvil group compared with the diabetic group. Importantly, through miRNA target biological function and pathway analysis, we found that vildagliptin activated miR-190-5p to inhibit Ccl2 expression and inhibited miR-134-5p and miR-375-3p to increase Bdnf and Pdk1 expression in the aorta.

CONCLUSIONS

Our present study indicates that vildagliptin can recover endothelial function in diabetic rats. Anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis mechanisms and endothelial moderation may be the intervention targets of vildagliptin to protect the cardiovascular system through miRNA regulation.

MicroRNA-139-5p upregulation is associated with diabetic endothelial cell dysfunction by targeting c-jun

Dysfunction of endothelial cells (ECs) and their progenitor cells is an important feature of diabetic vascular disease. MicroRNA (miR)-139-5p is involved in inhibiting the metastasis and progression of diverse malignancies. However, the role of miR-139-5p in ECs still remains unclarified. Here we demonstrated that miR-139-5p expression was elevated in endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) isolated from patients with diabetes, ECs derived from the aorta of diabetic rodents, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cultured in high glucose media. MiR-139-5p mimics inhibited tube formation, migration, proliferation, and down-regulated expression of c-jun, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-B, in ECFCs and HUVECs, respectively; moreover, miR-139-5p inhibitors reversed the tendency. Further, gain- and-loss function experiments and ChIP assay indicated that miR-139-5p regulate functions of ECFCs by targeting c-jun-VEGF/PDGF-B pathway. In vivo experiments (Matrigel plug assay and hindlimb ischemia model) showed that miR-139-5p downregulation further promoted ECFC-mediated angiogenesis and blood perfusion. In conclusion, diabetes-mediated high miR-139-5p expression inhibits the c-jun-VEGF/PDGF-B pathway, thus decreasing ECFCs migration, tube formation and proliferation, which subsequently reduces ECs survival. Therefore, miR-139-5p might be an important therapeutic target in the treatment of diabetic vasculopathy in the future.

Liraglutide Increases Serum Levels of MicroRNA-27b, -130a and -210 in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Novel Epigenetic Effect

Liraglutide has shown favourable effects on several cardiometabolic risk factors, beyond glucose control. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression, resulting in post-transcriptional modifications of cell response and function. Specific miRNAs, including miRNA-27b, miRNA-130a, and miRNA-210, play a role in cardiometabolic disease. We aimed to determine the effect of liraglutide on the serum levels of miRNA-27b, miRNA-130a and miRNA-210. Twenty-five subjects with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), naïve to incretin-based therapy, were treated with liraglutide (1.2 mg/day as an add-on to metformin) for 4 months. miRNAs were quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction. After liraglutide treatment, we found significant reductions in fasting glucose (from 9.8 ± 5.3 to 6.7 ± 1.6 mmol/L, p = 0.0042), glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) (from 8.1 ± 0.8 to 6.6 ± 1.0%, p = 0.0008), total cholesterol (from 5.0 ± 1.0 to 4.0 ± 0.7 mmol/L, p = 0.0011), triglycerides (from 1.9 ± 1.0 to 1.5 ± 0.8 mmol/L, p = 0.0104) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (from 2.9 ± 1.2 to 2.2 ± 0.6 mmol/L, p = 0.0125), while the serum levels of miRNA-27b, miRNA-130a and miRNA-210a were significantly increased (median (interquartile range, IQR) changes: 1.73 (7.12) (p = 0.0401), 1.91 (3.64) (p = 0.0401) and 2.09 (11.0) (p = 0.0486), respectively). Since the changes in miRNAs were independent of changes in all the metabolic parameters investigated, liraglutide seems to exert a direct epigenetic effect in T2DM patients, regulating microRNAs involved in the maintenance of endothelial cell homeostasis. These changes might be implicated in liraglutide’s benefits and may represent useful targets for cardiometabolic management.

Up-regulation of miR-139-5p protects diabetic mice from liver tissue damage and oxidative stress through inhibiting Notch signaling pathway

The occurrence and development of diabetes seriously threaten the health of patients. Therefore, the mechanism exploration of diabetes is of great significance for more effective control of this disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate the regulatory mechanism of miR-139-5p and Notch signaling pathway on liver damage and oxidative stress in diabetic mice. The mouse model of diabetes was established, and the mice were divided into normal group, model group, negative control (NC) group, miR-139-5p mimic group, miR-139-5p inhibitor group, DAPT group, and miR-139-5p inhibitor + DAPT group. The mRNA expressions of miR-139-5p, Notch1, Jagged1, and NICD1, and the protein expressions of Notch1, Jagged1, and NICD1 were detected. In addition, HepG2 cells were cultured for high glucose induction, and cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry. The results showed that the body weights of mice in the model, NC, miR-139-5p mimic, miR-139-5p inhibitor, DAPT, and miR-139-5p inhibitor + DAPT groups were all lower than that in the normal group. Co-localization of miR-139-5p and Notch1 was observed in the fluorescence in situ hybridization assay, and miR-139-5p was found to negatively regulate Notch1. Furthermore, reduced blood glucose level and inhibited liver oxidative stress were observed in mice with miR-139-5p overexpression or DAPT treatment. DAPT treatment reversed the increase of blood glucose level and oxidative stress injury caused by miR-139-5p silencing. In conclusion, up-regulation of miR-139-5p expression can protect liver tissue from oxidative stress injury in diabetic mice, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of Notch signaling pathway.

Incretins and microRNAs: Interactions and physiological relevance

MicroRNAs (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.

LncRNA LEGLTBC Functions as a ceRNA to Antagonize the Effects of miR-34a on the Downregulation of SIRT1 in Glucolipotoxicity-Induced INS-1 Beta Cell Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood glucose and/or high serum free fatty acids. Chronic hyperlipidemia causes the dysfunction of pancreatic beta cells, which is aggravated in the presence of hyperglycemia (glucolipotoxicity). Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been suggested to play key roles in type 1 diabetes mellitus development. However, their roles in glucolipotoxicity-induced beta cell dysfunction are not fully understood. In the present study, we identified the differentially expressed lncRNAs in INS-1 cells exposed to high glucose and palmitate (HG/PA). Among the dysregulated lncRNAs, NONRATT003679.2 (low expression in glucolipotoxicity-treated beta cells (LEGLTBC)) was involved in glucolipotoxicity-evoked rat islet beta cell damage. LEGLTBC functioned as a molecular sponge of miR-34a in INS-1 cells. Additionally, SIRT1 was identified as a target of miR-34a and LEGLTBC promoted SIRT1 expression by sponging miR-34a. The upregulation of LEGLTBC attenuated HG/PA-induced INS-1 cell injury through the promotion of SIRT1-mediated suppression of ROS accumulation and apoptosis. This is the first study to comprehensively identify the lncRNA expression profiling of HG/PA-treated INS-1 beta cells and to demonstrate that LEGLTBC functions as a competing endogenous RNA and regulates miR-34a/SIRT1-mediated oxidative stress and apoptosis in INS-1 cells undergoing glucolipotoxicity.

Downregulation of thymopoietin by miR-139-5p suppresses cell proliferation and induces cell cycle arrest/apoptosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) serve a pivotal role in tumor development and progression, in which miRNA (miR)-139-5p functions as a tumor suppressor. However, the functions and mechanisms of miR-139-5p in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remain unclear. In the present study, it was found that miR-139-5p was markedly decreased in PDAC tissues and cell lines. Noticeably, thymopoietin (TMPO) was predicted and confirmed as a direct target of miR-139-5p using a luciferase reporter system. The expression level of miR-139-5p was inversely associated with the expression of TMPO in PDAC specimens. A series of gain-of-function assays elucidated that the overexpression of miR-139-5p suppressed cell proliferation, and induced cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis, determined with a Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation assays and flow cytometry, respectively. Furthermore, the re-expression of TMPO eliminated the effects of miR-139-5p on cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and apoptosis. In summary, these findings demonstrated that miR-139-5p may be a tumor suppressor in PDAC, which may be useful in developing promising therapies for PDAC.

EZH2-Mediated microRNA-139-5p Regulates Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Lymph Node Metastasis of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most aggressive cancers presenting with high rates of invasion and metastasis, and unfavorable prognoses. The current study aims to investigate whether EZH2/miR-139-5p axis affects epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and lymph node metastasis (LNM) in PC, and the mechanism how EZH2 regulates miR-139-5p. Human PC and adjacent normal tissues were collected to determine expression of EZH2 and miR-139-5p, and their relationship with clinicopathological features of PC. Human PC cell line was selected, and treated with miR-139-5p mimics/inhibitors, EZH2 vector or shEZH2 in order to validate the regulation of EZH2-mediated miR-139-5p in PC cells. Dual-luciferase report gene assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay were employed to identify the relationship between miR-139-5p and EZH2. RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis were conducted to determine the expression of miR-139-5p, EZH2 and EMT-related markers and ZEB1/2. Tumor formation ability and in vitro cell activity were also analyzed. Highly-expressed EZH2 and poorly-expressed miR-139-5p were detected in PC tissues, and miR-139-5p and EZH2 expressions were associated with patients at Stage III/IV, with LNM and highly-differentiated tumors. EZH2 suppressed the expression of miR-139-5p through up-regulating Histone 3 Lysine 27 Trimethylation (H3K27me3). EMT, cell proliferation, migration and invasion were impeded, and tumor formation and LNM were reduced in PC cells transfected with miR-139-5p mimics and shEZH2. MiR-139-5p transcription is inhibited by EZH2 through up-regulating H3K27me3, thereby down-regulation of EZH2 and up-regulation of miR-139-5p impede EMT and LNM in PC. In addition, the EZH2/miR-139-5p axis presents as a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of PC.

Jiang Tang Xiao Ke Granule Play an Anti-diabetic Role in Diabetic Mice Pancreatic Tissue by Regulating the mRNAs and MicroRNAs Associated with PI3K-Akt Signaling Pathway

Purpose: To investigate the effect of JTXK granule on the expression pattern of miRNA in pancreatic tissue of KKAy diabetic mice, and to explore the molecular mechanism and pathways of JTXK granule in anti-diabetic effect.

Methods: We used high fat diet (HFD) to induce the KKAy diabetic mice and screened the differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) between JTXK-treated group (n = 6) and the diabetic group (n = 6) using MicroRNA (miRNA) Microarray. C57BL/6J mice were given a normal diet as the control group (n = 6). Subsequently, miRNA target gene prediction, GO and Pathway analysis were used to explore the function of DEMs. Finally, the mechanism of anti-diabetic effects of JTXK granule was tested by in vitro INS-1 pancreatic β-cell experiment.

Results: The blood glucose and body weight of JTXK-treated group was significantly lower compared with the model group. Moreover, a total of 45 miRNAs with significant differences were detected in the model group and the JTXK-treated group (P ≤ 0.05, Fold Change > 2). Further, miRNA-mRNA analysis showed that the differential expression of mmu-miR-192-5p, mmu-miR-291a-3p, mmu-miR-320-3p, mmu-miR-139-5p and mmu-miR-378a-3p are closely related to pancreatic histological changes. In addition, pathway analysis showed that the DEMs were closely related to PI3K-Akt Signaling Pathway. Furthermore, the levels of serine/threonine-protein kinase (Akt), phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) and phosphorylated forkhead transcription factor O1 (p-Foxo1) in INS-1-FOXO1 overexpressing model cells were lower than those in normal group, while JTXK granules could increase the expression of Akt, p-Akt and p-Foxo1.

Conclusions: The results showed that JTXK granule could play an anti-diabetic role by regulating the mRNA and miRNAs associated with PI3K-Akt pathway in diabetic mice pancreatic tissue.