title: MicroRNA-125a-3p expression in abdominal adipose tissues is associated with insulin signalling gene expressions in morbid obesity: observations in Taiwanese.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Micro (mi) RNAs have been found to play an important role in the regulation of adipogenesis and insulin sensitivity. However, associations between miRNA and insulin signalling-related gene expressions in abdominal adipose tissues in obese subjects remain unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a microarray platform to screen miRNA expressions in abdominal adipose tissues between genders in severely obese subjects and found that the top-ranking miRNA in abdominal omental adipose tissues was miRNA-125a-3p. MicroR-125a-3p and insulin signalling-related gene expressions in abdominal omental adipose tissues of all subjects (11 men and 10 women) were subsequently quantified by a real-time PCR. Also, associations of miR-125a-3p with insulin signalling-related gene expression and biochemical markers in obese subjects were analyzed by a linear regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  miR-125a-3p expressed by abdominal omental adipose tissues was much higher in obese men than women. No gender difference was observed in abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissues. Concomitant with high miR-125a-3p, c-Jun N-terminal kinase gene expression was also higher, whereas insulin receptor was lower in men than women. There were negative associations of miR-125a-3p with the insulin receptor and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase expressions. Fasting plasma glucose and cholesterol levels were positively associated with miR- 125a-3p expression. These associations were obvious in obese men but not women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results support the involvement of miR-125a-3p in regulating the insulin signalling pathway and imply that increased miR- 125a-3p expression in omental adipose tissues may be a characteristic feature of insulin resistance in obese men.
authors.affiliation: School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu- Hsing Street, Taipei, Taiwan, 110, ROC. sangling@tmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Chiu-Li
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: I-Chi
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Yu-Chen
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Weu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Sung-Ling
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Yeh
mesh_terms: D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002784:Cholesterol; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D046228:Microarray Analysis / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012737:Sex Factors; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*; D013624:Taiwan; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; C531888:MIRN125 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D002784:Cholesterol