Dysregulation of miR-21–5p in children with obesity and its predictive value for metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Background

microRNAs (miRNAs) could mediate the glucose and lipid metabolism progress in metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Objectives

To analyze the value of miRNA (miR)-21–5p for MetS diagnosis in children with obesity. Function of miR-21–5p has been explored by the prediction of target genes and functional and pathway enrichment analysis.

Methods

Relative miR-21–5p level was examined by qRT-PCR. Predictive value of miR-21–5p for MetS was assessed by ROC curve. miRBase, TargetScan, and miRWalk databases were used to screen the target genes of miR-21–5p. GO and KEGG were operated to analyze the function of candidate genes of miR-21–5p.

Results

Overexpressed miR-21–5p was discovered in MetS children (P < 0.001). High miR-21–5p level could predict MetS patients from children with obesity. Serum miR-21–5p level was closely related to BMI (r = 0.631, P < 0.001), FBG (r = 0.341, P < 0.001), Fasting Insulin (r = 0.438, P < 0.001), TG (r = 0.662, P < 0.001), SBP (r = 0.432, P < 0.001), DBP (r = 0.524, P < 0.001), and HDL-C (r = -0.201, P < 0.001). High miR-21–5p level could predict MetS patients from children with obesity (AUC= 0.827, sensitivity= 0.750, specificity=0.806, cutoff value= 1.0293, P < 0.001). Venn diagram found 83 intersection genes among 3 databases. GO and KEGG analyses indicated that candidate genes of miR-21–5p were mainly correlated with Axon guidance, FoxO signaling pathway, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and insulin resistance pathways.

Conclusion

Blood miR-21–5p was elevated in MetS children, and could predict MetS subjects from children with obesity. miR-21–5p could regulate the MetS development via FoxO signaling pathway and insulin resistance pathways.