The Role of Noncoding RNAs in Pancreatic Birth Defects

Authors

Ziyue Zoey Yang
Ronald J Parchem

Publication Date

11-15-2023

Journal

Birth Defects Research

DOI

10.1002/bdr2.2178

PMID

37066622

PMCID

PMC10579456

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

11-15-2024

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Author MSS

Published Open-Access

yes

Keywords

Animals, Epigenesis, Genetic, RNA, Untranslated, Pancreas, Pancreatic Neoplasms, Diabetes Mellitus, pancreatic development, pancreatic birth defects, ncRNA, miRNA, lncRNA, epigenetic regulation

Abstract

Congenital defects in the pancreas can cause severe health issues such as pancreatic cancer and diabetes which require lifelong treatment. Regenerating healthy pancreatic cells to replace malfunctioning cells has been considered a promising cure for pancreatic diseases including birth defects. However, such therapies are currently unavailable in the clinic. The developmental gene regulatory network underlying pancreatic development must be reactivated for in vivo regeneration and recapitulated in vitro for cell replacement therapy. Thus, understanding the mechanisms driving pancreatic development will pave the way for regenerative therapies. Pancreatic progenitor cells are the precursors of all pancreatic cells which use epigenetic changes to control gene expression during differentiation to generate all of the distinct pancreatic cell types. Epigenetic changes involving DNA methylation and histone modifications can be controlled by noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). Indeed, increasing evidence suggests that ncRNAs are indispensable for proper organogenesis. Here, we summarize recent insight into the role of ncRNAs in the epigenetic regulation of pancreatic development. We further discuss how disruptions in ncRNA biogenesis and expression lead to developmental defects and diseases. This review summarizes in vivo data from animal models and in vitro studies using stem cell differentiation as a model for pancreatic development.