Diabetes & Metabolism Journal

Original Article

Basic and Translational Research
LRRFIP1 Inhibits White Adipocyte Differentiation by Suppressing the E2F6/C/EBPα Axis: Lei Zhou, Yuwen Jiao, Jiaming Xue, Xiaoqiang Zhan, Dongmei Wang, Liming Tang; Received March 4, 2025 Accepted July 24, 2025 Published online November 12, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4093/dmj.2025.0178 [Epub ahead of print]

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material PubReader ePub: Background
To investigate the biological functions of the transcription factor LRR binding FLII interacting protein 1 (LRRFIP1) in white adipocyte differentiation (WAD) and elucidate the underlying molecular regulatory mechanisms involved.
Methods
Consensus clustering, differential gene expression screening, and intersection analysis were used to identify transcription factors involved in WAD. Adipogenic differentiation experiments were conducted using C3H10T1/2 cells, and a diet-induced obesity model in C57BL/6J mice was established to investigate the function of LRRFIP1 in WAD in vitro and in vivo. Molecular mechanisms were examined through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, luciferase assays, and chromatin immunoprecipitation.
Results
Bioinformatics analyses identified LRRFIP1 as a transcription factor associated with WAD. LRRFIP1 expression was downregulated in white adipose tissues from obese patients and in mature white adipocytes. Silencing LRRFIP1 significantly inhibited WAD in C3H10T1/2 cells and reduced differentiation biomarker expression; in contrast, overexpressing LRRFIP1 had the opposite effects. Mechanistically, LRRFIP1 bound to the E2F transcription factor 6 (E2F6) promoter to suppress E2F6 transcription, thereby downregulating a key differentiation regulator, CCAAT enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPα). Furthermore, in a diet-induced obesity model, LRRFIP1 could regulate the differentiation and maturation of inguinal white adipose tissue.
Conclusion
Our findings reveal that LRRFIP1 plays a crucial inhibitory role in WAD by negatively regulating the E2F6/C/EBPα axis. This discovery not only enriches our understanding of the molecular networks governing WAD but also holds great promise for creating targeted therapies for obesity and associated metabolic conditions.

Brief Report

Type 1 Diabetes
In Vivo Differentiation of Endogenous Bone Marrow-Derived Cells into Insulin-Producing Cells Using Four Soluble Factors: Seung-Ah Lee, Subin Kim, Seog-Young Kim, Jong Yoen Park, Hye Seung Jung, Sung Soo Chung, Kyong Soo Park; Diabetes Metab J. 2025;49(1):150-159. Published online October 24, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4093/dmj.2024.0174

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Four soluble factors—putrescine, glucosamine, nicotinamide, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibitor BP-1-102—were shown to differentiate bone marrow mononucleated cells (BMNCs) into functional insulin-producing cells (IPCs) in vitro. Transplantation of these IPCs improved hyperglycemia in diabetic mice. However, the role of endogenous BMNC regeneration in this effect was unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of these factors on in vivo BMNC differentiation into IPCs in diabetic mice. Mice were orally administered the factors for 5 days, twice at 2-week intervals, and monitored for 45–55 days. Glucose tolerance, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, and pancreatic insulin content were measured. Chimeric mice harboring BMNCs from insulin promoter luciferase/green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic mice were used to track endogenous BMNC fate. These factors lowered blood glucose levels, improved glucose tolerance, and enhanced insulin secretion. Immunostaining confirmed IPCs in the pancreas, showing the potential of these factors to induce β-cell regeneration and improve diabetes treatment.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Kinetics of respiratory burst and its regulation in bone marrow granulocytes of diabetic db/db mice
Valentina G. Safronova, Alsu R. Dyukina, Irina V. Tikhonova, Andrey A. Grinevich
Free Radical Biology and Medicine.2025; 240: 80. CrossRef

Review

Basic Research
Heterogeneity of Islet Cells during Embryogenesis and Differentiation: Shugo Sasaki, Takeshi Miyatsuka; Diabetes Metab J. 2023;47(2):173-184. Published online January 12, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4093/dmj.2022.0324

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Diabetes is caused by insufficient insulin secretion due to β-cell dysfunction and/or β-cell loss. Therefore, the restoration of functional β-cells by the induction of β-cell differentiation from embryonic stem (ES) and induced-pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, or from somatic non-β-cells, may be a promising curative therapy. To establish an efficient and feasible method for generating functional insulin-producing cells, comprehensive knowledge of pancreas development and β-cell differentiation, including the mechanisms driving cell fate decisions and endocrine cell maturation is crucial. Recent advances in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technologies have opened a new era in pancreas development and diabetes research, leading to clarification of the detailed transcriptomes of individual insulin-producing cells. Such extensive high-resolution data enables the inference of developmental trajectories during cell transitions and gene regulatory networks. Additionally, advancements in stem cell research have not only enabled their immediate clinical application, but also has made it possible to observe the genetic dynamics of human cell development and maturation in a dish. In this review, we provide an overview of the heterogeneity of islet cells during embryogenesis and differentiation as demonstrated by scRNA-seq studies on the developing and adult pancreata, with implications for the future application of regenerative medicine for diabetes.

Citations

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Pancreatic β-cell remodeling in health and aging: Lessons from rodents and humans
Radwan Darwish, Yasmine Alcibahy, Sangeeta Dhawan, Alexandra E. Butler, Abu Saleh Md Moin
Ageing Research Reviews.2025; 110: 102815. CrossRef
Single-cell RNA sequencing in studies of type 1 diabetes mellitus: modern state-of-the-art and technical peculiarities
Azat Vadimovich Abdullatypov, Olga Valentinovna Glushkova, Ekaterina Sergeevna Petriaikina, Viktor Pavlovich Bogdanov, Dmitry Vyacheslavovich Tabakov, Vasilii Eduardovich Akimov, Vladimir Sergeevich Yudin, Anton Arturovich Keskinov, Sergey Mikhailovich Yu
Frontiers in Endocrinology.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Imeglimin enhances α-to-β reprograming mediated by PDX1 in β-cell ablated islets
Rei Fujishima, Tomomi Taguchi, Naoya Shimizu, Agena Suzuki, Wataru Hagiwara, Shiori Ito, Satomi Takebe, Mitsuko Inoue, Takeshi Miyatsuka
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications.2025; 790: 152886. CrossRef
Transcriptional and temporal heterogeneity of developing α cells revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing
Naoya Shimizu, Tomomi Taguchi, Miwa Himuro, Iichiro Shimomura, Francis C. Lynn, Hirotaka Watada, Shugo Sasaki, Takeshi Miyatsuka
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications.2025; 792: 152996. CrossRef
Investigation of the motif activity of transcription regulators in pancreatic β-like cell subpopulations differentiated from human induced pluripotent stem cells
Eric Leclerc, Mikhail Pachkov, Lisa Morisseau, Fumiya Tokito, Cecile Legallais, Rachid Jellali, Masaki Nishikawa, Amar Abderrahmani, Yasuyuki Sakai
Molecular Omics.2024; 20(10): 654. CrossRef
Newly discovered knowledge pertaining to glucagon and its clinical applications
Dan Kawamori, Shugo Sasaki
Journal of Diabetes Investigation.2023; 14(7): 829. CrossRef

Original Article

Basic Research
Differentiation of Microencapsulated Neonatal Porcine Pancreatic Cell Clusters in Vitro Improves Transplant Efficacy in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Mice: Gyeong-Jin Cheon, Heon-Seok Park, Eun-Young Lee, Min Jung Kim, Young-Hye You, Marie Rhee, Ji-Won Kim, Kun-Ho Yoon; Diabetes Metab J. 2022;46(5):677-688. Published online February 7, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4093/dmj.2021.0202

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Background
Neonatal porcine pancreatic cell clusters (NPCCs) have been proposed as an alternative source of β cells for islet transplantation because of their low cost and growth potential after transplantation. However, the delayed glucose lowering effect due to the immaturity of NPCCs and immunologic rejection remain as a barrier to NPCC’s clinical application. Here, we demonstrate accelerated differentiation and immune-tolerant NPCCs by in vitro chemical treatment and microencapsulation.
Methods
NPCCs isolated from 3-day-old piglets were cultured in F-10 media and then microencapsulated with alginate on day 5. Differentiation of NPCCs is facilitated by media supplemented with activin receptor-like kinase 5 inhibitor II, triiodothyronine and exendin-4 for 2 weeks. Marginal number of microencapsulated NPCCs to cure diabetes with and without differentiation were transplanted into diabetic mice and observed for 8 weeks.
Results
The proportion of insulin-positive cells and insulin mRNA levels of NPCCs were significantly increased in vitro in the differentiated group compared with the undifferentiated group. Blood glucose levels decreased eventually after transplantation of microencapsulated NPCCs in diabetic mice and normalized after 7 weeks in the differentiated group. In addition, the differentiated group showed nearly normal glucose tolerance at 8 weeks after transplantation. In contrast, neither blood glucose levels nor glucose tolerance were improved in the undifferentiated group. Retrieved graft in the differentiated group showed greater insulin response to high glucose compared with the undifferentiated group.
Conclusion
in vitro differentiation of microencapsulated immature NPCCs increased the proportion of insulin-positive cells and improved transplant efficacy in diabetic mice without immune rejection.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Dual-targeted nano-encapsulation of neonatal porcine islet-like cell clusters with triiodothyronine-loaded bifunctional polymersomes
Sang Hoon Lee, Minse Kim, Eun-Jin Lee, Sun Mi Ahn, Yu-Rim Ahn, Jaewon Choi, Jung-Taek Kang, Hyun-Ouk Kim
Discover Nano.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Long‐term efficacy of encapsulated xenogeneic islet transplantation: Impact of encapsulation techniques and donor genetic traits
Heon‐Seok Park, Eun Young Lee, Young‐Hye You, Marie Rhee, Jong‐Min Kim, Seong‐Soo Hwang, Poong‐Yeon Lee
Journal of Diabetes Investigation.2024; 15(6): 693. CrossRef

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