Role of HDAC inhibitors in diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Objective: The role of histone deacetylases has come out as an emerging remedy in control and treatment of various metabolic disorders and cancers. This review highlights their intricate role in diabetes mellitus as well as its associated complications.

Key findings: Through recent studies and reports the role of various epigenetic markers in treatment of diabetes mellitus has been revealed. HDAC enzyme regulates the structure of chromatin and transcripts genes in the nucleus synthesizing various proteins that control metabolic activities in the body. It mainly acts by removing an acetyl group from its precursor protein thereby modulating gene expression and regulates the metabolic enzyme acetylation in mitochondria and cytosol.

Summary: The present review focus on the intrinsic role of HDAC inhibitors as an emerging remedy for diabetes and its complications demonstrating their use in preventing resistance of β-cells towards insulin, destruction of β-cells and provide protection against cytokine mediated attack on pancreatic cells.

Keywords: Acetylation; Gene expression; Histone deacetylases; Insulin resistance; Transcription; β-cell destruction.