Extracellular microRNAs and endothelial hyperglycaemic memory: a therapeutic opportunity?

What is it about?

Glycemic control lowers but not suppresses the risk of cardiovascular diseases in patients with type 2 diabetes, probably due to an existence of a "memory" effect for this pathology. Various hypothesis have been made to explain this phenomenon. Here, we suggest that extracellular, circulating fragments of small RNA (i.e microRNAs) are modified by diabetes and their alteration is not restored by glycemic control obtained with diabetes medications. Since increasing knowledge indicate a central role for these miRNAs in maintaining vascular homeostasis, we propose this phenomenon as relevant to explain the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases that diabetic subjects have even in case of optimal therapy.

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Why is it important?

The molecular basis of the "metabolic memory" phenomenon are of utmost importance since current diabetes medications do not suppress the increased risk of death experienced by these patients. A deep knowledge of this phenomenon would eventually allow new, alternative approaches for diabetes management, adding a therapeutic option beyond anti-hyperglycemic/anti-hyperlypidemic compounds .