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Circulating MicroRNA (miRNA)s as Biological Markers and Links with Obesity and Obesity-Related Morbid Conditions

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Biomarkers in Nutrition

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Abstract

In late years, a substantial advance has been made in the study of the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the pathogenesis of diseases. New evidence shows that dysregulation of miRNAs represents an etiologic factor of a variety of disorders, including cancer. Besides, miRNAs have also emerged as fundamental regulators of metabolic processes taking part in maintaining energy balance and metabolic homeostasis. Dysregulation of miRNAs, by directly affecting the status and functions of adipose tissue, pancreas, liver, and muscle, contributes to metabolic abnormalities being fully implicated in body fat accumulation, obesity, and obesity-related diseases. The discovery of circulating miRNAs has highlighted their potential as endocrine signaling molecules and disease indicators. Nevertheless, the study of the involvement of miRNAs in metabolic dysfunctions is still a young field of research and information on their role is nearly limited to date. As well, the contemporary rising in childhood obesity rates creates a need for tools that quantify metabolic changes in obese children and adolescents for the early detection or prevention of comorbidities. This chapter aims to provide current insights into the role of miRNAs as biological markers focusing on their link to obesity and obesity-related morbid conditions.

Availability of Data: We thoroughly explored PubMed using different combinations of keywords. Articles published until September 2021 were included. Whenever possible, the most recent and complete reviews on the research area were included. Due to length constraints, bibliographic references relevant to the topic from a variety of groups were excluded, but supplementary documents can be found within the references.

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Abbreviations

AGO:

Argonaute

BMI:

Body Mass Index

BMPs:

bone morphogenetic proteins

C/EBPs:

CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins

cmiRNAs:

circulating miRNAs

DGCR8:

DiGeorge Syndrome Critical Region 8

GWA:

genome-wide association (studies)

HbA1c:

glycated hemoglobin A1c

HNF:

hepatocyte nuclear factor

HOMA-IR score:

homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance

LETFs:

liver-enriched transcription factors

miRNAs:

microRNAs

ncRNAs:

non-coding RNAs

NGS :

next-generation sequencing

NPM-1:

nucleophosmin-1

PPAR-γ:

proliferator-activated receptor-γ

RISCs:

RNA-induced silencing complexes

SFA :

saturated fatty acids

SREBP1:

sterol regulatory element-binding protein

T1DM:

type 1 diabetes mellitus

T2DM:

type-2 diabetes mellitus

TGF-β:

transforming growth factor beta

Wnt:

Wingless/Integrated

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  1. Author Contributions: All authors equally contributed to the intellectual content of this chapter. All authors collected the data, drafted the paper, revised the chapter, and made substantial contributions to its organization and final content.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council, Avellino, Italy

    Fabio Lauria & Giuseppe Iacomino

  2. LILT, at Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS, Fondazione G. Pascale, Naples, Italy

    Antonella Venezia

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  1. Fabio Lauria
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  2. Antonella Venezia
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  3. Giuseppe Iacomino
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Correspondence to Giuseppe Iacomino .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Biomedical Science, University of Westminster, London, UK

    Vinood B. Patel

  2. Franklin-Wilkins Bldg, Rm 4.101, 4th Fl, Kings Coll London, Sch Biomed Health Sci, London, UK

    Victor R. Preedy

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Lauria, F., Venezia, A., Iacomino, G. (2022). Circulating MicroRNA (miRNA)s as Biological Markers and Links with Obesity and Obesity-Related Morbid Conditions. In: Patel, V.B., Preedy, V.R. (eds) Biomarkers in Nutrition . Biomarkers in Disease: Methods, Discoveries and Applications. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-81304-8_29-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-81304-8_29-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-81304-8

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