Peripheral Blood miRome Identified miR-155 as Potential Biomarker of MetS and Cardiometabolic Risk in Obese Patients

Abstract

This study explored circulating miRNAs and target genes associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiometabolic risk in obese patients. Small-RNA sequencing was used to assess the peripheral blood miRNome of 12 obese subjects (6 MetS and 6 non-MetS). Differentially expressed miRNAs and target genes were further analyzed by qPCR in a larger sample of obese patients (48 MetS and 32 non-MetS). miRNA:mRNA interactions were studied using in silico tools. miRNome analysis identified 10 downregulated miRNAs in MetS compared to non-Met patients (p CEBPB, KRAS proto-oncogene, GTPase—KRAS and suppressor of cytokine signaling 1—SOCS1) with a potential role in the insulin receptor signaling pathway. miR-155 expression was reduced and CEBPB mRNA levels were increased in MetS patients (p p 7.6) was associated with low miR-155 levels, high CEBPB expression, and serum hsCRP (p CEBPB, HOMA-IR, and plasma fibrinogen, and positively correlated with serum adiponectin (p CEBPB.

Keywords

• obesity
• metabolic syndrome
• microRNAs
• miR-155
• <i>CEBPB</i>
• cardiometabolic risk