MicroRNA and Diabetic Bone Disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The incidence of diabetes is increasing worldwide. Diabetes mellitus is characterized by hyperglycemia, which in the long-term damages the function of many organs including the eyes, the vasculature, the nervous system, and the kidneys, thereby imposing an important cause of morbidity for affected individuals. More recently, increased bone fragility was also noted in patients with diabetes. While patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) have low bone mass and a 6-fold risk for hip fractures, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have an increased bone mass, yet still display a 2-fold elevated risk for hip fractures. Although the underlying mechanisms are just beginning to be unraveled, it is clear that diagnostic tools are lacking to identify patients at risk for fracture, especially in the case of T2DM, in which classical tools to diagnose osteoporosis such as dual X-ray absorptiometry have limitations. Thus, new biomarkers are urgently needed to help identify patients with diabetes who are at risk to fracture. RECENT FINDINGS: Previously, microRNAs have received great attention not only for being involved in the pathogenesis of various chronic diseases, including osteoporosis, but also for their value as biomarkers. SUMMARY: Here, we summarize the current knowledge on microRNAs and their role in diabetic bone disease and highlight recent studies on miRNAs as biomarkers to predict bone fragility in T1DM and T2DM. Finally, we discuss future directions and challenges for their use as prognostic markers.