Circulating microRNA changes in patients with impaired glucose regulation

Abstract

We analysed if levels of four miRNAs would change after a lifestyle intervention involving dietary and exercises in prediabetes. MiRNAs previously shown to be associated with diabetes (Let-7a, Let-7e, miR-144 and miR-92a) were extracted from serum pre- and post-intervention. mRNA was extracted from fat-tissue for gene expression analyses. The intervention resulted in increased Let-7a and miR-92a. We found correlations between miRNAs and clinical variables (triglycerides, cholesterol, insulin, weight and BMI). We also found correlations between miRNAs and target genes, revealing a link between miR-92a and IGF system. A lifestyle intervention resulted in marked changes in miRNAs. The association of miRNAs with insulin and the IGF system (both receptors and binding proteins) may represent a mechanism of regulating IGFs metabolic actions.