MicroRNA-18 promotes apoptosis of islet β-cells via targeting NAV1.

The detailed pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus (DM) remains to be fully elucidated. The purpose of the present study was to explore the role of microRNA (miR)-18 in DM and its underlying mechanisms, providing novel ideas for the treatment of the disease. After inflammatory factor-mediated induction, miR-18 expression in the islet β-cell line MIN6 was detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). miR-18 mimics and miR-18 inhibitor were then constructed and transfected into MIN6 cells. The mRNA levels of pro-insulin in MIN6 cells were also detected by RT-qPCR. Released insulin levels and insulin secretion function of MIN6 cells were accessed by ELISA and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion assay, respectively. Apoptosis of MIN6 cells was detected by a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridinetriphosphate nick end labeling assay and western blot analysis of apoptotic proteins. The binding interaction of miR-18 and neuron navigator 1(NAV1), a constituent of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway, was assessed using a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. Finally, the regulatory effect of miR-18 on the PI3K/AKT pathway was determined by western blot analysis. After induction of inflammatory factors in MIN6 cells, miR-18 expression was markedly upregulated. Transfection with miR-18 mimics inhibited pro-insulin levels, as well as insulin production and secretion capacity. miR-18 knockdown partially abrogated the inhibited insulin secretion capacity induced by interleukin-1β (IL-1β) treatment. In addition, apoptosis of MIN6 cells was increased by miR-18 mimics. The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed the direct binding of miR-18 to NAV1. Western blot analysis suggested that miR-18 markedly inhibited the PI3K/AKT pathway in MIN6 cells. In conclusion, miR-18 expression is upregulated by IL-1β induction in islet β-cells. It was demonstrated that miR-18 promotes apoptosis of islet β-cells at least partially by inhibiting NAV1 expression and insulin production via suppression of the PI3K/AKT pathway.