MicroRNA-124 promotes hepatic triglyceride accumulation through targeting tribbles homolog 3

Sci Rep. 2016 Nov 15:6:37170. doi: 10.1038/srep37170.

Abstract

An increase in hepatic triglyceride (TG) contents usually results in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and related metabolic diseases. However, the mechanisms underlying perturbations of hepatic TG homeostasis remain largely unknown. Here, we showed that MicroRNA-124 was up-regulated in the livers of C57BL/6 mice fed a short-term high-fat-diet (HFD). Adenoviral overexpression of miR-124 in C57BL/6 mice led to accumulation of excessive triglycerides and up-regulation of lipogenic genes in the liver. We further identified tribbles homolog 3 (TRB3) as a direct target of miR-124. AKT signaling, which is negatively regulated by TRB3, was enhanced by miR-124 overexpression. Moreover, restoration of TRB3 expression markedly abolished the effect of miR-124 on hepatic TG metabolism. Therefore, our findings revealed that miR-124 played a role in mediating high-fat-diet induced TG accumulation in the liver.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae
  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Dietary Fats / pharmacology*
  • Lipogenesis / drug effects*
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Triglycerides / biosynthesis*
  • Triglycerides / genetics

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Dietary Fats
  • MicroRNAs
  • Mirn124 microRNA, mouse
  • TRB3 protein, mouse
  • Triglycerides
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt