Mechanistic Role of MicroRNAs in Coupling Lipid Metabolism and Atherosclerosis

Warning

This publication doesn't include Faculty of Sports Studies. It includes Faculty of Medicine. Official publication website can be found on muni.cz.
Authors

NOVÁK Jan OLEJNÍČKOVÁ Veronika TKÁČOVÁ Nikola SANTULLI Gaetano

Year of publication 2015
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Medicine

Citation
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22380-3_5
Field Physiology
Keywords lipid metabolism; HDL; LDL; cholesterol; atherosclerosis; miR-33; miR-122; miR-223
Description MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) represent a group of powerful and versatile posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression being involved in the fine control of a plethora of physiological and pathological processes. Besides their well-established crucial roles in the regulation of cell cycle, embryogenesis or tumorigenesis, these tiny molecules have also been shown to participate in the regulation of lipid metabolism. In particular, miRs orchestrate cholesterol and fatty acids synthesis, transport, and degradation and low-density and high-density lipoprotein (LDL and HDL) formation. It is thus not surprising that they have also been reported to affect the development and progression of several lipid metabolism-related disorders including liver steatosis and atherosclerosis. Mounting evidence suggests that miRs might represent important “posttranscriptional hubs” of lipid metabolism, which means that one miR usually targets 3’-untranslated regions of various mRNAs that are involved in different steps of one precise metabolic/signaling pathway, e.g., one miR targets mRNAs of enzymes important for cholesterol synthesis, degradation, and transport. Therefore, changes in the levels of one key miR affect various steps of one pathway, which is thereby promoted or inhibited. This makes miRs potent future diagnostic and even therapeutic tools for personalized medicine. Within this chapter, the most prominent microRNAs involved in lipid metabolism, e.g., miR-27a/b, miR-33/33*, miR-122, miR-144, or miR-223, and their intracellular and extracellular functions will be extensively discussed, in particular focusing on their mechanistic role in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. Special emphasis will be given on miR-122, the first microRNA currently in clinical trials for the treatment of hepatitis C and on miR-223, the most abundant miR in lipoprotein particles.
Related projects:

You are running an old browser version. We recommend updating your browser to its latest version.

More info