miRNA and protein expression profiles of visceral adipose tissue reveal miR-141/YWHAG and miR-520e/RAB11A as two potential miRNA/protein target pairs associated with severe obesity

J Proteome Res. 2012 Jun 1;11(6):3358-69. doi: 10.1021/pr300152z. Epub 2012 May 15.

Abstract

Adipose tissues show selective gene expression patterns, to whom microRNAs (miRNAs) may contribute. We evaluated in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) from obese and nonobese females, both miRNA and protein expression profiles, to identify miRNA/protein target pairs associated with obesity (metabolic pathways miRNA-deregulated during obesity). Obese and nonobese females [BMI 42.2 ± 1.6 and 23.7 ± 1.2 kg/m(2) (mean ± SEM), respectively] were enrolled in this study. Notably, most miRNAs were down-expressed in obese tissues, whereas most of the proteins from the investigated spots were up-expressed. Bioinformatics integration of miRNA expression and proteomic data highlighted two potential miRNA/protein target pairs: miR-141/YWHAG (tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein, gamma polypeptide) and miR-520e/RAB11A (Ras-related protein RAB-11A); the functional interaction between these miRNAs and their target sequences on the corresponding mRNAs was confirmed by luciferase assays. Both RAB11A and YWHAG proteins are involved in glucose homeostasis; YWHAG is also involved in lipid metabolism. Hence, the identified miRNA/protein target pairs are potential players in the obese phenotype.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Intra-Abdominal Fat / metabolism*
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity, Morbid / genetics
  • Obesity, Morbid / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference
  • Transcriptome*
  • Young Adult
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • MIRN141 microRNA, human
  • MIRN520 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • rab11 protein
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins