MicroRNA-23a regulates 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation

• The role of miRNA-23a in adipocyte differentiation were firstly investigated.
• miRNA-23a influences lipid accumulation and triglyceride content was observed.
• miRNA-23a changes lipogenic transcription, fatty acid synthesis and fatty acid transport.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs, which are involved in regulation of a variety of biological processes. Since previous studies regarding the role of miRNAs in the regulation of adipogenic differentiation have shown that miRNA-27a, one member of miRNA-23a∼27a∼24 cluster, could suppress adipogenesis. We now investigated whether miRNA-23a regulates adipogenic differentiation. In the present study, we showed that the expression of miRNA-23a is decreased during the process of adipogenic differentiation. Over-expression of miRNA-23a decreased lipid accumulation and triglyceride content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Our results also demonstrated that miRNA-23a decreases mRNA levels of adipocyte-specific genes involved in lipogenic transcription, fatty acid synthesis and fatty acid transport. These findings suggested miRNA-23a to be a new type of adipogenic depressor and to play an important role in regulating adipocyte differentiation.