Targeting Metabolic Syndrome Pathways: Carrot microRNAs As Potential Modulators.

ABSTRACT

Metabolic syndrome is a condition characterized by metabolic alterations that culminate in chronic noncommunicable diseases of high morbidity and mortality, such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and colon cancer. Developing new therapeutic strategies with a multifactorial approach is important since current therapies focus on only one or two components of the metabolic syndrome. In this sense, plant-based gene regulation represents an innovative strategy to prevent or modulate human metabolic pathologies, including metabolic syndrome. Here, using a computational and systems biology approach, it was found that carrot microRNAs can modulate key BMPs/SMAD signaling members, C/EBPs, and KLFs involved in several aspects associated with metabolic syndrome, including the hsa04350TGF-beta signaling pathway, hsa04931insulin resistance, hsa04152AMPK signaling pathway, hsa04933AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, hsa04010MAPK signaling pathway, hsa04350TGF-beta signaling pathway, hsa01522endocrine resistance, and hsa04910insulin signaling pathway. These data demonstrated the potential applications of carrot microRNAs as effective food-based therapeutics for obesity and associated metabolic diseases.