Circulating microRNA changes in patients with impaired glucose regulation

ABSTRACT

We analysed if levels of four miRNAs would change after a lifestyle intervention involving dietary and exercises in prediabetes. MiRNAs previously shown to be associated with diabetes (Let-7a, Let-7e, miR-144 and miR-92a) were extracted from serum pre- and post-intervention. mRNA was extracted from fat-tissue for gene expression analyses. The intervention resulted in increased Let-7a and miR-92a. We found correlations between miRNAs and clinical variables (triglycerides, cholesterol, insulin, weight and BMI). We also found correlations between miRNAs and target genes, revealing a link between miR-92a and IGF system. A lifestyle intervention resulted in marked changes in miRNAs. The association of miRNAs with insulin and the IGF system (both receptors and binding proteins) may represent a mechanism of regulating IGFs metabolic actions.

KEYWORDS:

• Circulating microRNAs
• pre-diabetes
• impaired glucose regulation (IGR)
• lifestyle change

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported.

Data availability statement

Data available on request due to privacy/ethical restrictions

Additional information

Funding

This study was in part funded by grants from the NOVO Nordisk UK [2016]; and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) [R00 122368 and R01 145170] to Ella Fitzgerald Foundation, and Center for Cancer and Aging at City of Hope.