Association between circulating microRNAs and the metabolic syndrome in adult populations: A systematic review

• Published in: Diabetes & metabolic syndrome clinical research & reviews Vol. 16; no. 1; p. 102376
• Main Authors: Solís-Toro, Daniel, Mosquera Escudero, Mildrey, García-Perdomo, Herney Andrés
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2022
• Subjects: Adult; Circulating MicroRNA - genetics; Diabetes; Gene Expression Regulation; High-density lipoprotein cholesterol; Human; Humans; Hypertension; Insulin resistance; Insulin Resistance - genetics; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolic Syndrome - diagnosis; Metabolic Syndrome - genetics; microRNA; MicroRNAs - genetics; Obesity; Triglycerides; Hypertension; Human; Obesity; Insulin resistance; microRNA; Triglycerides; Diabetes; Metabolic syndrome; High-density lipoprotein cholesterol
• ISSN: 1871-4021; 1878-0334
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2021.102376

Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are one of the most abundant classes of gene regulatory molecules, and had been associated to the metabolic syndrome, higher BMI, dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus. In this sense, miRNAs could help to understand the mechanism behind the development of metabolic syndrome.
To determine the relationship between circulating microRNAs and the metabolic syndrome in adult population.
We performed a systematic review according to the recommendations of the Cochrane Collaboration and following the PRISMA Statement. The results were grouped for miRNAs levels in MetS and metabolic variables included in MetS and their statistic association with miRNAs levels.
We finally included sixteen studies with a total of 7195 individuals. We found 47 miRNAs reported to be related to metabolic syndrome (p < 0,05) and 98 associated with the metabolic alterations included in its diagnostic (p < 0,05). Forty-nine miRNAs levels were described as relate to insulin resistance, 29 with high triglycerides, 35 with hypertension, 28 with obesity, and 16 miRNAs with cholesterol HDL(p < 0,05). Changes in levels of miR-505-5p, miR-148a-3p, miR-19b-3p, miR-320b, miR-342-3p, miR-197-3p, miR-192-5p, miR-122-5p, miR-103, miR-130a, miR-155-5p and miR-375, were reported as significant in more than one study. The results only included a descriptive synthesis, clinical heterogeneity did not allow a meta-analysis.
The findings on the current systematic review suggests a possible relationship between miRNAs with metabolic syndrome and metabolic traits. This association could help to understand the mechanism behind the develop of the metabolic syndrome. However, more studies are necessary for further validation.
•Nine articles described changes in the levels of 47 miRNAs between the group with metabolic syndrome and the control group.•Only miR-122-5p and miR-103 were significantly associated with metabolic syndrome at less in two different studies.•98 miRNAs levels significantly associated to at less one of the five metabolic traits of metS.