Human miR-1 Stimulates Metabolic and Thermogenic-Related Genes in Adipocytes

MicroRNAs play a pivotal role in the regulation of adipose tissue function and have emerged as promising therapeutic candidates for the management of obesity and associated comorbidities. Among them, miR-1 could be a potential biomarker for metabolic diseases and contribute to metabolic homeostasis. However, thorough research is required to fully elucidate the impact of miR-1 on human adipocyte thermogenesis and metabolism. This study aimed to explore the effect of miR-1 on human adipocyte browning, a process whose activation has been linked to obesity protection and counteraction. Human multipotent adipose-derived stem cells, hMADS cells, were differentiated into white and brown-like adipocytes and transfected with miR-1 mimics for gene expression and western blotting analyses. miR-1 inhibited the expression of its previously validated target <i>PTK9</i>/<i>TWF1</i> and modulated the expression profile of key genes involved in thermogenesis and adipocyte browning (increased <i>UCP1</i> at mRNA and protein level, increased <i>CPT1M</i>, decreased <i>HIF3A</i>), adipocyte differentiation and metabolism (decreased <i>PLIN1</i>, <i>FASN</i>, <i>RXRA</i>, <i>PPARG</i>, <i>FABP4</i>, <i>MAPKAPK2</i>), as well as genes related to the cytoskeleton (decreased <i>ACTB</i>) and extracellular matrix (decreased <i>COL1A1</i>). These findings suggest that miR-1 can modulate the expression of adipocyte human genes associated with thermogenesis and metabolism, which could hold value for eventual therapeutic potential in obesity.