Reduced miR-184-3p expression protects pancreatic β-cells from lipotoxic and proinflammatory apoptosis in type 2 diabetes via CRTC1 upregulation

The loss of functional beta-cell mass in type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with molecular events that include beta-cell apoptosis, dysfunction and/or dedifferentiation. MicroRNA miR-184-3p has been shown to be involved in several beta-cell functions, including insulin secretion, proliferation and survival. However, the downstream targets and upstream regulators of miR-184-3p have not been fully elucidated. Here, we show reduced miR-184-3p levels in human T2D pancreatic islets, whereas its direct target CREB regulated transcription coactivator 1 (CRTC1) was increased and protects beta-cells from lipotoxicity- and inflammation-induced apoptosis. Downregulation of miR-184-3p in beta-cells leads to upregulation of CRTC1 at both the mRNA and protein levels. Remarkably, the protective effect of miR-184-3p is dependent on CRTC1, as its silencing in human beta-cells abrogates the protective mechanism mediated by inhibition of miR-184-3p. Furthermore, in accordance with miR-184-3p downregulation, we also found that the beta-cell-specific transcription factor NKX6.1, DNA-binding sites of which are predicted in the promoter sequence of human and mouse MIR184 gene, is reduced in human pancreatic T2D islets. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis and mRNA silencing experiments, we demonstrated that NKX6.1 directly controls both human and murine miR-184 expression. In summary, we provide evidence that the decrease in NKX6.1 expression is accompanied by a significant reduction in miR-184-3p expression and that reduction of miR-184-3p protects beta-cells from apoptosis through a CRTC1-dependent mechanism.