Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences (Nov 2022)

Exogenous miRNAs from Moringa oleifera Lam. recover a dysregulated lipid metabolism

  • Valentina Roglia,
  • Marina Potestà,
  • Marina Potestà,
  • Alessandra Minchella,
  • Stefania Paola Bruno,
  • Stefania Paola Bruno,
  • Roberta Bernardini,
  • Daniele Lettieri-Barbato,
  • Daniele Lettieri-Barbato,
  • Federico Iacovelli,
  • Angelo Gismondi,
  • Katia Aquilano,
  • Antonella Canini,
  • Rosario Muleo,
  • Vittorio Colizzi,
  • Vittorio Colizzi,
  • Maurizio Mattei,
  • Maurizio Mattei,
  • Antonella Minutolo,
  • Antonella Minutolo,
  • Carla Montesano,
  • Carla Montesano

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmolb.2022.1012359
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9

Abstract

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A balanced diet is critical for human health, and edible plants play an important role in providing essential micronutrients as well as specific microRNAs (miRNAs) that can regulate human gene expression. Here we present the effects of Moringa oleifera (MO) miRNAs (mol-miRs) on lipid metabolism. Through in silico studies we identified the potential genes involved in lipid metabolism targeted by mol-miRs. To this end, we tested the efficacy of an aqueous extract of MO seeds (MOES), as suggested in traditional African ethnomedicine, or its purified miRNAs. The biological properties of MO preparations were investigated using a human derived hepatoma cell line (HepG2) as a model. MOES treatment decreased intracellular lipid accumulation and induced apoptosis in HepG2. In the same cell line, transfection with mol-miRs showed similar effects to MOES. Moreover, the effect of the mol-miR pool was investigated in a pre-obese mouse model, in which treatment with mol-miRs was able to prevent dysregulation of lipid metabolism.

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