MicroRNA -143 and -223 in obesity

Obesity alters endocrine and metabolic functions of adipose tissue and has been recognized as a chronic inflammatory disease, which in turn may contribute to the development of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, obesity-associated vasculopathy and cardiovascular disease. The pathogenesis of obesity involves many regulatory pathways including transcriptional regulatory networks, including microRNAs.

A total of 83 patients were included in the study. Patients were recruited from a cardiology outpatient clinic and were allocated into 3 age- and sex-matched groups according to their body mass index. Group 1 included 23 morbidly obese, group 2 30 obese, and group 3 30 normal or overweight subjects.

In our study, we showed that miR-143 and miR-223 levels were significantly lower in groups 1 and 2 than the control group (normal BMI or overweight).

Obesity leads to alterations in miRNA expressions and miRNA-143 and -223s can be used as biomarkers for the metabolic changes in obesity.