Journal of International Medical Research (Nov 2021)

Liraglutide suppresses obesity and promotes browning of white fat via miR-27b and

  • Xing Wang,
  • Shuchun Chen,
  • Dan Lv,
  • Zelin Li,
  • Luping Ren,
  • Haijiao Zhu,
  • Xing Xie,
  • Yang Liu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/03000605211055059
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 49

Abstract

Read online

Objective To investigate the effect of liraglutide on the browning of white fat and the suppression of obesity via regulating microRNA (miR)-27b in vivo and in vitro . Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high-fat (HF) diet and 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes were differentiated into mature white adipocytes. Rats and mature adipocytes were then treated with different doses of liraglutide. The mRNA and protein levels of browning-associated proteins, including uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), PR domain containing 16 (PRDM16), CCAAT enhancer binding protein β (CEBPβ), cell death-inducing DFFA-like effector A (CIDEA) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ-coactivator 1α (PGC-1α), were detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Results Liraglutide decreased body weight and reduced the levels of blood glucose, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in HF diet-fed rats. Liraglutide increased the levels of UCP1, PRDM16, CEBPβ, CIDEA and PGC-1α in vivo and vitro . The levels of miR-27b were upregulated in HF diet-fed rats, whereas liraglutide reduced the levels of miR-27b. In vitro , overexpression of miR-27b decreased the mRNA and protein levels of UCP1, PRDM16, CEBPβ, CIDEA and PGC-1α. Transfection with the miR-27b mimics attenuated the effect of liraglutide on the browning of white adipocytes. Conclusion Liraglutide induced browning of white adipose through regulation of miR-27b.