MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs, which are involved in regulation of a variety of biological processes. Since previous studies regarding the role of miRNAs in the regulation of adipogenic differentiation have shown that miRNA-27a, one member of miRNA-23a∼27a∼24 cluster, could suppress adipogenesis. We now investigated whether miRNA-23a regulates adipogenic differentiation. In the present study, we showed that the expression of miRNA-23a is decreased during the process of adipogenic differentiation. Over-expression of miRNA-23a decreased lipid accumulation and triglyceride content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Our results also demonstrated that miRNA-23a decreases mRNA levels of adipocyte-specific genes involved in lipogenic transcription, fatty acid synthesis and fatty acid transport. These findings suggested miRNA-23a to be a new type of adipogenic depressor and to play an important role in regulating adipocyte differentiation.
Keywords: 3T3-L1 cell line; Adipocyte differentiation; Adipocyte lipid metabolism; MiRNA-23a.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.