Integrated miRNA – mRNA Analysis Reveals Obesity‐Driven Regulatory Networks in Human Visceral Adipose Tissue With and Without Type 2 Diabetes
Authors' conclusion
This study provides a comprehensive characterisation of the vWAT miRNA landscape predominantly shaped by obesity, with T2D contributing comparatively subtle additional variation. We identified putative miRNA-mRNA regulatory associations that may contribute to pathological adipose tissue dysfunction.
Study context
- Population
- Lean controls and individuals with obesity with and without T2D; visceral white adipose tissue (vWAT) samples
- Exposure
- Lean vs obese vs obese+T2D
- Outcome
- vWAT miRNA expression
Methodological detailsdiscovery cohort, independent replication cohort, deep miRNA sequencing, RT-qPCR validation, integrated miRNA-mRNA analysis
- Discovery cohort
- Independent replication cohort
- Deep miRNA sequencing
- RT-qPCR validation
- Integrated miRNA-mRNA analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Dominant transcriptomic signal driven by obesity rather than T2D status, with substantial overlap between obese subgroups in principal component analyses
- miR-141-3p, miR-200b-3p, miR-12 136 and miR-585-3p showed consistent differential expression associated with obesity
- miR-141-3p and miR-200b-3p upregulated and inversely associated with metabolic stress-related genes, including TF and FBXO32
- Integrated miRNA-mRNA analyses revealed putative regulatory associations involving inflammation, lipid metabolism, insulin signalling and iron homeostasis
- Associations robust across progressive covariate adjustment models for age and sex
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Integrated miRNA – mRNA Analysis Reveals Obesity‐Driven Regulatory Networks in Human Visceral Adipose Tissue With and Without Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 23 April 2026. doi:10.
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