Understanding the Role of Gut Hormones, Microbiota, and miRNAs in Metabolic Regulation and Glucose Homeostasis in Obesity and Type-2-Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a serious health concern and burden, attributable to the increased prevalence of obesity worldwide. Impaired glucose homeostasis and metabolic dysregulation are key features of obesity and type 2 diabetes, and gut hormones, the microbiome, and microRNAs are critical mediators of this process. Enteroendocrine cells of the gut lumen secretes gut hormones such as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), ghrelin, cholecystokinin, incretin, enteroglucagon, and peptide YY, which are involved in metabolic modifications leading to glucose homeostasis. In addition, gut microbiota and microRNAs (miRNAs) are implicated in metabolic dysregulation and glucose homeostasis. Increased microbial dysbiosis during obesity and diabetes is positively correlated with impaired metabolism, and gut microbiota modulation strategies including probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics have shown improved metabolism and glucose homeostasis. MicroRNAs (miRs) are one such mediator of regulating glucose homeostasis during obesity and diabetes. miRs are small noncoding RNAs that negatively regulate the target gene expression either by degradation or translational repression of targeted mRNAs. miRs are widely implicated in metabolic dysregulation and abnormal glucose homeostasis in obesity and diabetes and are emerging as important targets to treat obesity- and diabetes- associated metabolic complications. However, the specific regulatory mechanisms of gut hormones, microbiota and miRNAs in regulating metabolism and glucose homeostasis remain active areas of research.

The goal of this research topic is to collect and share basic and translational research related to identifying the roles of various gut hormones and miRNAs in glucose homeostasis. Additionally, this research topic will explore bench-to-bedside applications to target enteroendocrine factors or miRNAs to treat type 2 diabetes.

We welcome manuscripts from subtopics as follows:

1. Mechanisms underlying gut hormone-mediated regulation of glucose homeostasis in obesity and type 2 diabetes;

2. Role of miRNAs in metabolic regulation of glucose homeostasis in obesity and type 2 diabetes;

3. Microbial determinants (e.g., microbiome) of glucose homeostasis in obesity and diabetes;

4. Clinical implications of targeting gut hormones, microbiota, and miRNAs in obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Keywords: Gut hormones, Incretin, anti-incretins, gut endocrine miRNAs, Diabetes

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