MicroRNA 21 Regulates the Proliferation of Human Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity Alters microRNA 21 Expression in White Adipose Tissues

作者：Kim Yeon Jeong; Hwang Soo Hyun; Cho Hyun Hwa; Shin Keun Koo; Bae Yong Chan; Jung Jin Sup^*

来源：Journal of Cellular Physiology, 2012, 227(1): 183-193.

DOI：10.1002/jcp.22716

A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that govern human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hASCs) differentiation could provide new insights into a number of diseases including obesity. Our previous study demonstrated that microRNA-21 (miR-21) controls the adipogenic differentiation of hASCs. In this study, we determined the expression of miR-21 in white adipose tissues in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity mouse model to examine the relationship between miR-21 and obesity and the effect of miR-21 on hASCs proliferation. Our study showed biphasic changes of miR-21 expression and a correlation between miR-21 level and adipocyte number in the epididymal fat of HFD mice. Over-expression of miR-21 decreased cell proliferation, whereas inhibiting miR-21 with 2%26apos;-O-methyl-antisense RNA increased it. Over-expression of miR-21 decreased both protein and mRNA levels of STAT3, whereas inhibiting miR-21 with 2%26apos;-O-methyl-antisense RNA increased these levels. The activity of a luciferase construct containing the miR-21 target site from the STAT3 3%26apos;UTR was lower in LV-miR21-infected hASCs than in LV-miLacZ infected cells. RNA interference-mediated down-regulation of STAT3 decreased cell proliferation without affecting adipogenic differentiation. These findings provide the evidence of the correlation between miR-21 level and adipocyte number in the white adipose tissue of HFD-induced obese mice, which provides new insights into the mechanisms of obesity. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 183-193, 2012.

• 出版日期2012-1