A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Exosomal microRNA miR-92a concentration in serum reflects human brown fat activity
Authors: Yong Chen, Joschka J. Buyel, Mark J. W. Hanssen, Franziska Siegel, Ruping Pan, Jennifer Naumann, Michael Schell, Anouk van der Lans, Christian Schlein, Holger Froehlich, Joerg Heeren, Kirsi A. Virtanen, Wouter van Marken Lichtenbelt, Alexander Pfeifer
Publisher: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
Publication year: 2016
Journal: Nature Communications
Journal name in source: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
Journal acronym: NAT COMMUN
Article number: ARTN 11420
Volume: 7
Number of pages: 9
ISSN: 2041-1723
eISSN: 2041-1723
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms11420
Abstract
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) dissipates energy and its activity correlates with leanness in human adults. F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18-FDG) positron emission tomography coupled with computer tomography (PET/CT) is still the standard for measuring BAT activity, but exposes subjects to ionizing radiation. To study BAT function in large human cohorts, novel diagnostic tools are needed. Here we show that brown adipocytes release exosomes and that BAT activation increases exosome release. Profiling miRNAs in exosomes released from brown adipocytes, and in exosomes isolated from mouse serum, we show that levels of miRNAs change after BAT activation in vitro and in vivo. One of these exosomal miRNAs, miR-92a, is also present in human serum exosomes. Importantly, serum concentrations of exosomal miR-92a inversely correlate with human BAT activity measured by F-18-FDG PET/CT in two unique and independent cohorts comprising 41 healthy individuals. Thus, exosomal miR-92a represents a potential serum biomarker for BAT activity in mice and humans.
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) dissipates energy and its activity correlates with leanness in human adults. F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18-FDG) positron emission tomography coupled with computer tomography (PET/CT) is still the standard for measuring BAT activity, but exposes subjects to ionizing radiation. To study BAT function in large human cohorts, novel diagnostic tools are needed. Here we show that brown adipocytes release exosomes and that BAT activation increases exosome release. Profiling miRNAs in exosomes released from brown adipocytes, and in exosomes isolated from mouse serum, we show that levels of miRNAs change after BAT activation in vitro and in vivo. One of these exosomal miRNAs, miR-92a, is also present in human serum exosomes. Importantly, serum concentrations of exosomal miR-92a inversely correlate with human BAT activity measured by F-18-FDG PET/CT in two unique and independent cohorts comprising 41 healthy individuals. Thus, exosomal miR-92a represents a potential serum biomarker for BAT activity in mice and humans.
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