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Updated: Oct 9, 2025

Studying the Hypothalamic Insulin Signal to Peripheral Glucose Intolerance with a Continuous Drug Infusion System into the Mouse Brain
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Hypothalamic miR-1983 Targets Insulin Receptor β and the Insulin-mediated miR-1983 Increase Is Blocked by Metformin

Jennifer A Chalmers1, Prasad S Dalvi1, Neruja Loganathan1

  • 1Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada.

Endocrinology
|December 17, 2021
PubMed

Insights

A novel microRNA, miR-1983, is elevated in cellular insulin resistance and detectable in human blood. This microRNA may serve as a biomarker and therapeutic target for metabolic diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Metabolic Regulation
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Hypothalamic microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate energy balance and metabolism.
  • Central insulin resistance precedes peripheral insulin resistance.
  • Identifying a hypothalamic miRNA signature for insulin resistance is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if central insulin resistance generates a specific hypothalamic miRNA signature.
  • To investigate the role of miR-1983 in hypothalamic insulin resistance.
  • To assess miR-1983 as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for metabolic disease.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro studies using insulin-resistant hypothalamic neuronal models (NPY-expressing).
  • In vivo studies in hyperinsulinemic mice.
  • Detection and correlation analysis of miR-1983 in human blood serum.
  • Assessment of metformin's effect on miR-1983 levels.

Main Results:

  • miR-1983 was upregulated in insulin-resistant hypothalamic models and hyperinsulinemic mice.
  • Insulin receptor β subunit protein decreased, correlating with miR-1983 levels.
  • miR-1983 levels in human serum correlated with insulin and HOMA-IR.
  • Metformin normalized miR-1983 levels in cell culture.

Conclusions:

  • miR-1983 is a unique biomarker for cellular insulin resistance.
  • miR-1983 is a potential therapeutic target for metabolic diseases.
  • Hypothalamic miR-1983 alterations are linked to systemic insulin resistance.
Keywords:
NPY neuronhyperinsulinemiahypothalamusinsulin resistancemicroRNAobesity

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