RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Obesity is one of the most serious problems over the world. MicroRNAs have developed as main mediators of metabolic processes, playing significant roles in physiological processes. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the expressions of (miR-15a, miR-Let7, miR-344, and miR-365) and its relationship with the different classes in obese patients. METHODS: A total of 125 individuals were enrolled in the study and classified into four groups: healthy non-obese controls (n = 50), obese class I (n = 24), obese class II (n = 17), and obese class III (n = 34) concerning body mass index (BMI < 30 kg/m2, BMI 30-34.9 kg/m2, BMI 35-39.9 kg/m2 and BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2, respectively). BMI and the biochemical measurements (fasting glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL, urea, creatinine, AST, and ALT) were determined. The expressions of (miR-15a, miR-Let7, miR-344, and miR-365) were detected through quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). RESULTS: There was a significant difference between different obese classes and controls (P < 0.05) concerning (BMI, TC, TG, HDL, and LDL). In contrast, fasting glucose, kidney, and liver functions had no significant difference. Our data revealed that the expression of miR-15a and miR-365 were significantly associated with different obese classes. But the circulating miR-Let7 and miR-344 were not significantly related to obesity in different classes. CONCLUSION: Our study indicated that miR-15a and miR-365 might consider as biomarkers for the obesity development into different obese classes. Thus, the relationship between regulatory microRNAs and disease has been the object of intense investigation.
RESUMO
Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), major constituent of green tea, possesses antioxidant, antiviral, and anticancer activities. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) play an important role in drug delivery due to their stability, ease of surface functionalization, and unique optical properties. This study aimed to investigate the influence of EGCG-capped AuNPs on tumor suppressor miRNAs (miR-34a and let-7a) and their targeted cell death mediators in HepG2 cells, compared with celastrol. EGCG-AuNPs were prepared and characterized. antioxidant activity was estimated by DPPH scavenging assay; cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT assay; let-7a and miR-34a expression was analyzed by qPCR; and miRNAs targets (c-Myc and caspase-3) were assessed by ELISA and immunocytofluorescence, respectively. The average size of EGCG-AuNPs was 35 nm, with a λmax of ~535 nm. EGCG-AuNPs exerted cytotoxicity on HepG2 cells stronger than that of EGCG alone. EGCG-AuNPs and EGCG presented half-maximal radical scavenging concentrations (SC50) of 539 µg/ml and 45 µg/ml, respectively. The expression levels of let-7a and miR-34a were significantly elevated in HepG2 cells after EGCG-AuNP treatment for 72 h. c-Myc protein expression was reduced, whereas caspase-3 expression was increased following treatment with EGCG-AuNPs. In conclusion, Au-NPs are effective carrier for EGCG, and EGCG-AuNPs are promising anti-cancer agent.
