Participation of miRNA 141-3p in changes of adipose tissue induced by maternal obesity

• Grant number: 18/25091-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2019
• End date: December 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Alice Cristina Rodrigues
• Grantee: Nayara Preste de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Obesity has been growing exponentially all over the world, and its risk factors have both genetic and environmental origin. Epigenetics plays an important role in these alterations and, in this context, maternal metabolism during pregnancy and lactation affects the development of the offspring in the long term, so that maternal obesity is a risk factor for the development of obesity and diabetes in adult life. Among the various epigenetic mechanisms is the post-transcriptional regulation by microRNAs, small non-coding endogenous RNA molecules. Previous data from the Laboratory of Pharmacogenomics show that the offspring of the obese mothers is less sensitive to sympathetic stimulation, having a lower response to browning of inguinal white adipose tissue (WAT), which may imply a greater weight gain at more advanced ages. This mechanism appears to be associated with miR-141-3p expression. Since physical exercise is an inducer of WAT browning and is an essential non-pharmacological strategy for obesity management, our objective is to evaluate the participation of miR-141-3p microRNA in the promotion of WAT browning by training in the offspring of obese mothers. It is hoped from these results in a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the promotion of obesity.