Adipogenesis-related microRNAs in obesity

OpenAlex · English

Abstract: In the last four decades, studies have shown that the significant increase in the prevalence of obesity has become a pandemic. While obesity decreases life expectancy, it largely increases healthcare expenditures. However, up to one-third of obese patients are metabolically healthy. Even, after obese individuals undergo significant weight loss and regain a healthy appearance or have a lower degree of ectopic fat accumulation and visceral adipose tissue inflammation referred as metabolically healthy obese individuals, elevated adipocyte number is maintained. Over the last decade, intensive research has been conducted regarding the special role of exosomes and their cargos in inter-cellular communications involved in adipogenesis linked to human obesity. microRNAs (miRNAs) as key epigenomic regulators, play important role in many biological processes associated with obesity. During adipogenesis miRNAs accelerate or inhibit adipocyte differentiation and hence regulate not only fat cell development but also govern fat cell numbers. miRNA profiles of adipocyte differentiation phase and of permanent obesity phase are quite different. Some miRNAs are employed to be negative regulators of adipocytes differentiation while others are capable of accelerating adipogenesis. Co-transportation of miRNAs that activate or inhibit any of signaling pathways of adipocytes differentiation within the same exosome elicits a complex effect on adipogenesis. The purpose of this comprehensive review is to analyze the complexity of adipocyte-miRNA crosstalk in adipogenesis by comparing human data with experimental outcomes and to identify critical checkpoints.