Impact of microRNA-122 and microRNA-370 on insulin resistance and risk of cardiovascular diseases in obese Egyptian children

Abstract

Abstract Background: Childhood obesity represents a serious worldwide problem with many short and long-term significant health consequences. This study aimed to assess the expression levels of microRNA-122 and microRNA-370, and their possible correlation with insulin resistance and cardiovascular diseases in obese Egyptian children. Methods: Seventy obese children aged 5-10 years and thirty age-matched normal weight children as control were enrolled. All children were subjected to anthropometric, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure measurements as well as the expression of circulating of microRNA-122 and microRNA-370 was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction amplification. Serum biochemical parameters (glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and HDL) levels were determined. The homeostasis model assessment version 2 (HOMA2) was used to evaluate pancreatic beta cell function (HOMA2-%B), insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR), and insulin sensitivity (HOMA2-%S). Insulin sensitivity was further assessed by the single-point insulin sensitivity estimator (SPISE) index and McAuley index. Results: Compared with control group, the weight, BMI, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL, non-HDL cholesterol, cardiac risk ratio 1, cardiac risk ratio 2, atherogenic coefficient, atherogenic index, insulin levels, HOMA2-%B, HOMA2-IR and microRNA-122 were significantly increased (P < 0.001). MicroRNA-122 showed significant positive correlations with cardiac risk ratio 1 and atherogenic coefficient, however, a significant negative correlation with HDL in obese group. On the other hand, HOMA2-%S, McAuley and SPISE insulin sensitivity indices, HDL and microRNA-370 were significantly decreased. Conclusions: Changes in serum level of microRNA-122 and microRNA-370 in obese children may suggest a possible role in the pathogenesis of childhood obesity and their accompanied complications. Therefore, they can serve as early biomarkers and possible predictors for future metabolic dysfunction.