Characterization of Differentially Expressed Circulating miRNAs in Metabolically Healthy versus Unhealthy Obesity

• Published in: Biomedicines
• Main Authors: Susana Rovira-Llopis, Rubén Díaz-Rúa, Carmen Grau-del Valle, Francesca Iannantuoni, Zaida Abad-Jimenez, Neus Bosch-Sierra, Joaquín Panadero-Romero, Víctor M. Victor, Milagros Rocha, Carlos Morillas, Celia Bañuls
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-03-01
• Subjects: obesity; metabolic syndrome; microRNAs; insulin resistance; atherogenic dyslipidaemia; oxidative stress
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/9/3/321

Obese individuals without metabolic comorbidities are categorized as metabolically healthy obese (MHO). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) may be implicated in MHO. This cross-sectional study explores the link between circulating miRNAs and the main components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in the context of obesity. We also examine oxidative stress biomarkers in MHO vs. metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO). We analysed 3536 serum miRNAs in 20 middle-aged obese individuals: 10 MHO and 10 MUO. A total of 159 miRNAs were differentially expressed, of which, 72 miRNAs (45.2%) were higher and 87 miRNAs (54.7%) were lower in the MUO group. In addition, miRNAs related to insulin signalling and lipid metabolism pathways were upregulated in the MUO group. Among these miRNAs, hsa-miR-6796-5p and hsa-miR-4697-3p, which regulate oxidative stress, showed significant correlations with glucose, triglycerides, HbA1c and HDLc. Our results provide evidence of a pattern of differentially expressed miRNAs in obesity according to MetS, and identify those related to insulin resistance and lipid metabolism pathways.