# Plasma EV miR-186-5p as an Early Biomarker and Regulator of IFN-α-Mediated Oxidative and β-Cell Dysfunction in Prediabetes

## TL;DR

The study identifies miR-186-5p in blood as an early sign of prediabetes and shows it helps regulate β-cell dysfunction through IFN-α signaling.

## Contribution

EV miR-186-5p is newly identified as an early biomarker and regulator of β-cell stress in prediabetes.

## Key findings

- Plasma EV miR-186-5p is reduced in prediabetes and correlates with insulin resistance.
- miR-186-5p suppression leads to IFN-α signaling activation and β-cell dysfunction.
- Restoring miR-186-5p or inhibiting JAK mitigates β-cell oxidative stress and dysfunction.

## Abstract

Prediabetes is accompanied by early β-cell stress and oxidative imbalance before overt hyperglycemia. Circulating extracellular vesicle (EV) microRNAs (miRNAs) may capture early metabolic disturbances, but their mechanistic relevance remains unclear. Plasma EV miRNA profiles were analyzed across normoglycemia, prediabetes, and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, with validation in an independent cohort (n = 150). Functional studies were performed in pancreatic β-cells exposed to glucolipotoxic stress to examine miRNA regulation, IFN-α signaling, mitochondrial redox status, and insulin secretion. Six EV miRNAs, including miR-186-5p, were consistently reduced in prediabetes and correlated with glycemic and insulin resistance indices. In β-cells, glucolipotoxic stress selectively suppressed miR-186-5p, leading to derepression of IFNA2, activation of IFN-α–JAK/STAT signaling, increased mitochondrial ROS, impaired ATP/ADP dynamics, and reduced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Restoration of miR-186-5p or pharmacologic JAK inhibition mitigated these defects, and luciferase assays confirmed IFNA2 as a direct target of miR-186-5p. EV-associated miR-186-5p represents an early marker of metabolic stress in prediabetes and provides mechanistic insight into IFN-α–driven oxidative and secretory dysfunction in β-cells.