Changes in circulating microRNAs are associated with childhood obesity.
BACKGROUND
Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are valuable biomarkers of metabolic diseases and potential therapeutic targets in this field.


OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to define the circulating pattern of miRNAs in childhood obesity. DESIGN, SETTINGS, AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The genome-wide circulating miRNA profile was assessed by RT-PCR in 10 boys (5 lean and 5 obese children). The most relevant miRNAs were cross-sectionally validated in 85 lean versus 40 obese children (63 boys and 62 girls) and longitudinally evaluated in samples from the same children when they were ≈ 7 and ≈ 10 years old (23 boys and 22 girls).


RESULTS
The cross-sectional validation study disclosed that 15 specific circulating miRNAs were significantly deregulated in prepubertal obesity, including the decreased miR-221 and miR-28-3p and increased concentrations in plasma of miR-486-5p, miR-486-3p, miR-142-3p, miR-130b, and miR-423-5p (all P < .0001). The circulating concentration of these miRNAs was significantly associated with body mass index and other measures of obesity such as percent fat mass, waist, regional fat distribution and with laboratory parameters such as homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, high-molecular-weight adiponectin, C-reactive protein, and circulating lipids in concordance with anthropometric associations. Plasma concentrations of 10 of these circulating miRNAs changed significantly and differently during the 3-year follow-up in children who increased or decreased their normalized weight.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides the first evidence that circulating miRNAs are deregulated in prepubertal obese children. Thus, the very early detection of an abnormal circulating miRNA profile may be a promising strategy to identify obese children who may suffer from metabolic abnormalities.
MD, PhD, Section of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Nutrition. Hospital "Dr Josep Trueta" of Girona, Carretera de França s/n, 17007 Girona, Spain. jmfreal@idibgi.org.
Anna
A
Prats-Puig
Francisco J
FJ
Ortega
Josep M
JM
Mercader
José M
JM
Moreno-Navarrete
María
M
Moreno
Nuria
N
Bonet
Wifredo
W
Ricart
Abel
A
López-Bermejo
José M
JM
Fernández-Real
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics
D015415:Biomarkers; D035683:MicroRNAs