miR-27 impairs the adipogenic lineage commitment via targeting lysyl oxidase

The recruitment and commitment of mesenchymal stem cells and their terminal differentiation into adipocytes are the main pathways for increasing adipocyte cell numbers during obesity. Our previous studies have shown that lysyl oxidase (Lox) is upregulated and functions as an essential factor during bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) -induced C3H10T1/2 cell adipocytic lineage commitment. However, the mechanism of Lox regulation during adipogenic lineage commitment has remained largely unestablished.

Samples of adipose tissue from humans with different BMI and C57BL/6 mice with a high-fat diet were used to compare microRNA-27 (miR-27) expression level associated with obesity. Taqman assays were used for miR-27 expression detection and Oil Red O staining for adipogenesis analysis.

A negative correlation was identified between Lox expression level and miR-27 expression in both BMP4-treated C3H10T1/2 cells and human subcutaneous adipose tissues. A Lox 3' UTR luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-27 directly targeted Lox. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-27 impaired BMP4-induced upregulation of Lox and adipocytic commitment, which could be rescued by overexpression of mature Lox. Conversely, miR-27 inhibition by specific inhibitors increased Lox expression and adipocytic commitment.

Taken together, these results suggest a novel role for miR-27 in repressing adipogenic lineage commitment by targeting Lox.