Contributo in volume, 2020, ENG, 10.1007/978-3-030-53370-0_6#DOI

microRNAs in Obesity and Metabolic Diseases

Giuseppe Iacomino 1, Fabio Lauria 1, Antonella Venezia#, Nunzia Iannaccone 1, Paola Russo 1, Alfonso Siani 1

1) Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council, ISA-CNR, via Roma 64, 83100, Avellino-Italy; #) LILT - Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, via Mariano Semmola, 53, 80131, Napoli - Italy

In recent years, significant progress has been made on the role of regulatory microRNAs (miRNAs) in the development of diseases. miRNAs have emerged as key regulators of metabolic processes playing critical roles in maintaining organismal energy balance and metabolic homeostasis. Dysregulation of miRNAs may contribute to metabolic abnormalities since they play pivotal roles in body fat accumulation, obesity, and obesity-related disease by directly affecting status and functions of adipose tissue, pancreas, liver, and muscle. The discovery of circulating miRNAs highlighted their potential as either endocrine signalling molecules or disease indicators. However, the study of miRNAs involvement in metabolic diseases is still a young research field and information concerning their roles remains nearly limited nowadays. This chapter aims to provide recent findings concerning the contribution of miRNAs to obesity and obesity-related morbid conditions.

Keywords

Obesity, miRNA., Metabolic Disease, Disease Biomarkers, microRNA, obesity

CNR authors

Iacomino Giuseppe, Siani Alfonso, Russo Paola, Lauria Fabio

CNR institutes

ISA – Istituto di Scienze dell'Alimentazione