Synthetic Mimics of Wound-Induced Carrot MicroRNAs Affect Lipid Metabolism in Cultured Adipocytes

Background/Objectives: Plant-derived microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as cross-kingdom regulatory molecules, but their capacity to influence mammalian metabolism is still poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate whether miRNAs induced in carrots (Daucus carota) by postharvest wounding stress can modulate adipocyte lipid accumulation. Methods: High-throughput small RNA sequencing was performed to identify stress-responsive miRNAs in wounded carrots. Bioinformatic analyses predicted potential mammalian targets, focusing on genes involved in adipogenesis and lipid regulation, including those in the insulin and FoxO signaling pathways. Selected miRNAs were functionally validated in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by assessing intracellular triglyceride levels and glycerol release. Results: Six stress-responsive carrot miRNAs were predicted to target mammalian lipid metabolism genes. Functional assays revealed that miR165a-3p, miR232a-5p, and miR1799 significantly decreased intracellular triglyceride accumulation and increased glycerol release, suggesting enhanced lipolysis. These effects support the potential regulation of adipocyte metabolism through plant miRNA mimics. Conclusions: Our findings provide experimental evidence for stress-induced carrot miRNAs mimics potentially modulate fat accumulation. This work expands current understanding of dietary plant miRNAs and highlights their potential role as functional food components for metabolic health improvement. Further research is needed to establish their gastrointestinal stability, uptake from dietary matrices, and in vivo effects.