High-Throughput Sequencing of microRNAs in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: Identification of Potential Weight Loss Biomarkers

Abstract

IntroductionMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are being increasingly studied in relation to energy metabolism and body composition homeostasis. Indeed, the quantitative analysis of miRNAs expression in different adiposity conditions may contribute to understand the intimate mechanisms participating in body weight control and to find new biomarkers with diagnostic or prognostic value in obesity management.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was the search for miRNAs in blood cells whose expression could be used as prognostic biomarkers of weight loss.MethodsTen Caucasian obese women were selected among the participants in a weight-loss trial that consisted in following an energy-restricted treatment. Weight loss was considered unsuccessful when <5% of initial body weight (non-responders) and successful when >5% (responders). At baseline, total miRNA isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was sequenced with SOLiD v4. The miRNA sequencing data were validated by RT-PCR.ResultsDifferential baseline expression of several miRNAs was found between responders and non-responders. Two miRNAs were up-regulated in the non-responder group (mir-935 and mir-4772) and three others were down-regulated (mir-223, mir-224 and mir-376b). Both mir-935 and mir-4772 showed relevant associations with the magnitude of weight loss, although the expression of other transcripts (mir-874, mir-199b, mir-766, mir-589 and mir-148b) also correlated with weight loss.ConclusionsThis research addresses the use of high-throughput sequencing technologies in the search for miRNA expression biomarkers in obesity, by determining the miRNA transcriptome of PBMC. Basal expression of different miRNAs, particularly mir-935 and mir-4772, could be prognostic biomarkers and may forecast the response to a hypocaloric diet.

Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index and circulating microRNAs in pregnancy

“…43 MiRNAs have also been shown to have utility as clinical predictive biomarkers. 12, 44 Milagro et al investigated peripheral blood miRNA expression among responders and non-responders in a weight-loss trial and reported that two miRNAs (miR-935 and -4772) were upregulated and three miRNAs (miR-223, -224, and -376b) were downregulated in the non-responder group. 44 Our focus on circulating miRNAs in early-mid pregnancy will facilitate the effort to leverage the use of miRNAs in obesity-related mechanistic studies and preventive, diagnostic or therapeutic perinatal applications.…”

The Identification and Characteristics of Immune-Related MicroRNAs in Haemocytes of Oyster Crassostrea gigas

“…The target genes of oyster miRNAs were predicted using the miRanda algorithm (score > = 160, free energy< = −25 kcal/mol, http://www.microrna.org/microrna/getDownloads.do) [49].…”

Guide for Current Nutrigenetic, Nutrigenomic, and Nutriepigenetic Approaches for Precision Nutrition Involving the Prevention and Management of Chronic Diseases Associated with Obesity

“…Moreover, reductions of body fat and serum lipids were related to changes in the methylation status of genes involved in inflammatory response and fatty acid metabolism [99,100]. Furthermore, differential baseline expression of several miRNAs was found between responders and nonresponders to a weight-loss trial that consisted of following an energy-restricted treatment [101]. …”