miRNAs as cornerstones in adipogenesis and obesity

Abstract

In recent decades, obesity has extensively emerged to the level of pandemics. It's significantly associated with serious co-morbidities that could decrease life quality and even life expectancy. Obesity has several determinants, such as age, sex, endocrine, and genetic factors. The miRNAs have emerged as genetic factors affecting obesity. The miRNAs are small noncoding nucleic acids that can modify gene expression and hence, control biological processes. The miRNAs can greatly affect many biological processes in obesity, such as adipogenesis, lipid metabolism, and homeostasis. As a result, the entry of miRNAs in obesity therapeutic approaches has been strongly advised as miRNAs mimics, inhibitors, and stimulators. Hence, this review aims to point out a summarized and updated overview of miRNAs and their roles in obesity and its included processes, such as adipogenesis and lipid metabolism. Besides, we also review recent applications of miRNAs as a treatment approach for obesity.

Keywords: Adipogenesis; Biogenesis; Lipid metabolism; Obesity; miRNA.