Obesity, Insulin Resistance, and Colorectal Cancer: Could MiRNA Dysregulation Play A Role?

Overview

Journal Int J Mol Sci

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Biochemistry
Chemistry
Molecular Biology

Date 2019 Jun 19

PMID 31207998

Citations 34

Authors

Francesca Cirillo

Cecilia Catellani

Chiara Sartori

Pietro Lazzeroni

Sergio Amarri

Maria Elisabeth Street

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Obesity is associated with insulin resistance and low-grade inflammation. Insulin resistance is a risk factor for cancer. A recent chapter in epigenetics is represented by microRNAs (miRNAs), which post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression. Dysregulated miRNA profiles have been associated with diseases including obesity and cancer. Herein we report dysregulated miRNAs in obesity both in animal models and in humans, and we also document dysregulated miRNAs in colorectal cancer (CRC), as example of an obesity-related cancer. Some of the described miRNAs are found to be similarly dysregulated both in obesity, insulin resistance (IR), and CRC. Thus, we present miRNAs as a potential molecular link between obesity and CRC onset and development, giving a new perspective on the role of miRNAs in obesity-associated cancers.

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