Downregulation of IncRNA TUG1 Affects Apoptosis and Insulin Secretion in Mouse Pancreatic β Cells

Background: Increasing evidence indicates that long noncoding RNAs (IncRNAs) perform specific biological functions in diverse processes. Recent studies have reported that IncRNAs may be involved in beta cell function. The aim of this study was to characterize the role of IncRNA TUG1 in mouse pancreatic beta cell functioning both in vitro and in vivo. Methods: qRT-PCR analyses were performed to detect the expression of IncRNA TUG1 in different tissues. RNAi, MTT, TUNEL and Annexin V-FITC assays and western blot, GSIS, ELISA and immunochemistry analyses were performed to detect the effect of IncRNA TUG1 on cell apoptosis and insulin secretion in vitro and in vivo. Results: IncRNA TUG1 was highly expressed in pancreatic tissue compared with other organ tissues, and expression was dynamically regulated by glucose in Nit-1 cells. Knockdown of IncRNA TUG1 expression resulted in an increased apoptosis ratio and decreased insulin secretion in beta cells both in vitro and in vivo. Immunochemistry analyses suggested decreased relative islet area after treatment with IncRNA TUG1 siRNA. Conclusion: Downregulation of IncRNA TUG1 expression affected apoptosis and insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells in vitro and in vivo. IncRNA TUG1 may represent a factor that regulates the function of pancreatic beta cells. Copyright (C) 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel