Objective
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is caused by a relative inability of the endocrine pancreas to meet the increasing metabolic demands of insulin resistance associated with obesity and ageing. Impaired insulin secretion is an early and critical step in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, but the underlying mechanism of ß-cell loss and dysfunction in T2DM are incompletely understood. Recent studies have indicated a role for several microRNAs (miRNAs), a recently discovered class of evolutionarily conserved small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression at a posttranscriptional level. Specific expression of miRNAs in β-cells has been reported. However, little is known about the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of T2DM. Therefore, the overall objective of this grant proposal is to understand the role of miRNAs in ß-cell function, glucose and lipid metabolism and etiology of T2DM. We aim to determine whether miRNAs are involved in the loss of ß-cell function and ß-cell mass in T2DM and will investigate the potential of miRNAs as a therapeutic target in T2DM.
First we will identify miRNAs that are differentially expressed in β-cells of normoglycemic, hyperglycemic and T2DM mice. We will next examine these differentially expressed miRNAs on their potential to dysregulate β-cell physiology in vitro. The impact of the promising miRNAs on β-cell function and β-cell mass will be assessed in C57Bl6 mice by overexpressing or silencing miRNA specifically in β-cells using AAV vectors. To determine the potential of miRNAs that affect β-cell development or function as therapeutic targets for T2DM, we will study these miRNAs in diabetic mice.
This work will generate new knowledge about the role of miRNAs in ß-cell function, glucose metabolism and T2DM. This may point to new therapeutic approaches focusing on restoring or silencing of specific miRNAs in pancreatic β-cells.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine endocrinology diabetes
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules lipids
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
- medical and health sciences health sciences nutrition obesity
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP7-PEOPLE-2010-RG
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Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
9713 GZ Groningen
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.