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Published on: October 26, 2017
Serum microRNA panels predict bariatric surgery outcomes
Jih-Kai Yeh1,2, Chia-Chun Chen3,4, Keng-Hau Liu2,5
1Division of Cardiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, Taoyuan City, Taiwan.
Objective:
The weight losses after bariatric surgery are modulated by multiple factors in people with obesity. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to show significant regulatory roles in adipose tissue. However, a serum miRNA signature to serve as a biomarker of sustained weight losses following bariatric surgery has not yet been established.
Methods:
MiRNA microarray was used to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in the serum of patients with an effective response after bariatric surgery compared with those without. Excess weight loss > 55% at 6 months after surgery was defined as an effective response.
Results:
Three miRNAs were shown to have a significantly differential expression between patients with or without an effective response following bariatric surgery. The miR-31-5p was downregulated, whereas miR-328-3p and miR-181a-5p were upregulated in the patients with effective responses compared with those without effective responses. Panels of the serum ratios of miR-328-3p/miR-31-5p or miR-181a-5p/miR-31-5p and individual BMI value exhibited good performance in preoperative prediction of treatment effectiveness. Bioinformatic analysis depicted that predicted targets of these miRNAs were involved in the regulation of the AMP-activated protein kinase signaling pathway.
Conclusions:
A circulating miRNA signature with clinical variables (BMI) can be a clinical biomarker to predict effectiveness following bariatric surgery.

