MicroRNA Mediators of Metabolic Disorders

MicroRNAs are short non-coding RNA molecules that fine-tune gene expression after transcription, thereby orchestrating key pathways in nutrient sensing, energy balance and lipid and glucose metabolism. Dysregulated microRNA patterns have been implicated in obesity, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the broader cluster of metabolic syndrome features. These molecules act both within cells and at a distance, conveyed by extracellular vesicles or bound to carrier proteins, to modulate processes such as insulin signalling, lipid handling and inflammatory responses. Their stability in circulation and tissue specificity render microRNAs attractive candidates as biomarkers for early detection of metabolic derangements and as targets for precision therapies aimed at restoring homeostasis.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent investigations have uncovered a gut microbe–vascular microRNA axis in which microbiota composition remotely influences endothelial expression of microRNA-204, leading to downregulation of the deacetylase Sirtuin1, diminished nitric oxide bioavailability and impaired vasorelaxation under high-fat diet conditions. Antagonism of microRNA-204 or manipulation of the microbiome rescues endothelial function, highlighting a novel interconnection between diet, microbial communities and vascular health. In parallel, population-based profiling of circulating microRNAs has identified hsa-miR-122-5p and hsa-miR-885-5p as elevated in individuals with ultrasonographically defined fatty liver. These microRNAs correlate with lipoprotein subclasses and inversely with cholesterol-transport receptors, suggesting roles both as biomarkers and as modulators of hepatic lipid accumulation pathways.

MicroRNA Mediators of Metabolic Disorders publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in microrna mediators of metabolic disorders across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

MicroRNA: A small non-coding RNA (~22 nucleotides) that binds target mRNAs to repress translation or induce degradation.

Post-transcriptional regulation: Control of gene expression after mRNA synthesis, affecting mRNA stability and translation.

Exosome: A nanoscale extracellular vesicle that transports proteins, lipids and RNAs between cells.

Biomarker: A measurable indicator of physiological or pathological processes or responses to an intervention.

Insulin resistance: A diminished cellular response to insulin, leading to impaired glucose uptake.

Dyslipidaemia: Abnormal levels of lipids or lipoproteins in the blood, often linked to cardiovascular risk.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): Excessive fat accumulation in the liver not driven by alcohol consumption, associated with metabolic dysfunction.

References

1. Human MicroRNAs Modulated by Diet: A Scoping Review. Advances in Nutrition (2024).
2. Childhood obesity, metabolic syndrome, and oxidative stress: microRNAs go on stage. Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (2023).
3. A review on cell-free RNA profiling: Insights into metabolic diseases and predictive value for bariatric surgery outcomes. Molecular Metabolism (2024).
4. Vascular microRNA-204 is remotely governed by the microbiome and impairs endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation by downregulating Sirtuin1. Nature Communications (2016).
5. Blood hsa-miR-122-5p and hsa-miR-885-5p levels associate with fatty liver and related lipoprotein metabolism—The Young Finns Study. Scientific Reports (2016).