Therapeutic potential of miRNAs in diabetes mellitus

miRNAs are major regulators of gene expression that are emerging as central players in the development of many human diseases, including diabetes mellitus. In fact, the manifestation of diabetes is associated with alterations in the miRNA profile in insulin-secreting cells, insulin target tissues and, in case of long-term diabetes complications, in many additional organs. Diabetes also results in changes in the profile of miRNAs detectable in blood and other body fluids. This has boosted an ever increasing interest in the use of circulating miRNAs as potential biomarkers to predict the development of diabetes and its devastating complications. Moreover, promising approaches to correct the level of selected miRNAs are emerging, permitting to envisage new therapeutic strategies to treat diabetes and its complications.