Crosstalk between circulating microRNAs and chronotypical features in subjects with metabolic syndrome

ABSTRACT

Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are valuable biomarkers that may provide important insight into the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Moreover, there is an association between chronotypical characteristics and MetS predisposition. Considering that expression of some miRNAs is circadian-rhythm-dependent, the aim of this study was to investigate the circulating miRNA profile in subjects with and without MetS in association with chronotype. The expression of 86 metabolic syndrome-related miRNAs was investigated in the plasma of 21 subjects with MetS and in 82 subjects without MetS using miRCURY LNA miRNA PCR System technology. Chronotype was assessed using the Horne and Östberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. Bioinformatic analyses were performed to explore the target genes and biological pathways regulated by the selected miRNAs. Subjects with MetS were more often evening chronotype compared to non-MetS controls. Additionally, four miRNAs (miR-140-3p, miR-150-5p, miR-375, and miR-29 c-3p) demonstrated interaction with MetS and chronotype. Interestingly, the target genes of these four miRNAs participate in pathways related to the circadian clock. In conclusion, we identified four circulating miRNAs whose circulating levels could interact with MetS and chronotype.

KEYWORDS:

• Circadian rhythm
• microRNA
• chronotype
• miR-155-5p
• miR-150-5p
• miR-375
• miR-140-3p
• metabolic syndrome
• clock genes

Acknowledgements

Authors thank Marta Cuervo, Leticia Goñi, Laura Olazaran, and Iosune Zubieta for the recruitment and nutritional assistance, and Ana Lorente for laboratory support.

Availability of data and material

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article in and its supplementary files. Requests for material should be made to the corresponding author.

Authors’ contributions

T.S.A. designed the study, analyzed and interpreted the data, and drafted the manuscript. A.C.S. analyzed and interpreted the chronotype data, and drafted the manuscript, F.S.P. analyzed and interpreted the data, and drafted the manuscript, J.I.R. designed the study, interpreted the data, and critically reviewed the manuscript. F.I.M. designed and supervised the study, interpreted the data, and critically reviewed the manuscript. J.AM. designed and supervised the study, interpreted the data, and critically reviewed the manuscript. All authors approved the final version and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work regarding accuracy and integrity aspects.

Disclosure

The authors declared no conflict of interest.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Additional information

Funding

The present research was supported by CIBERobn [grant number: CB12/03/30002, Professor J Alfredo Martínez], Government of Navarra (Obekit-PT024 project), and the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades [reference RTI2018-102205-B-I00]. T.S.A is recipient of scholarships from Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior [PDE/CAPES, grant number: 88881.170123/2018-01].