LAUSR

Abstract MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression. Recent evidence has shown that altered expression of miRNAs is associated with various pathophysiological processes, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cancer and other metabolic diseases. Circulating miRNAs are packaged inside exosomes, microvesicles of 20-150 nm, which are known to transfer miRNAs between cells. In this study, we aimed to compare exosomal miRNA profile between Korean obese subjects with prediabetes and those with T2DM.Sixteen subjects with prediabetes (mean A1c 5.8%, body-mass index [BMI] 39.9 ± 4.7 kg/m2) and 13 subjects with T2DM (mean A1c 7.1%, BMI 38.0 ± 6.4 kg/m2) were participated in our study. We measured circulating levels of exosomal miRNAs by next generation sequencing (NGS) and compared miRNA levels between the two groups.NGS has shown similar expression patterns of exosomal miRNAs between prediabetes and T2DM. However, we have identified more than 20 miRNAs which were differentially expressed (fold change > 2.0 or < -2.0) between the two groups. Whereas expression of miR-4792, miR-4485-5p, miR-6739-5p was significantly increased, expression of miR-199b-5p, miR-33a-5p, miR-424-5p was decreased in subjects with T2DM compared to those with prediabetes. In addition, expression of miR-6751-3p found to be decreased in subjects with prediabetes compared to non-obese controls was further decreased in those with T2DM.We have found the differential expression profile of circulating exosomal miRNAs between Korean obese subjects with prediabetes and those with T2DM. Further extensive studies will help identify the possible role of exosomal miRNAs on the pathogenesis of T2DM in obesity.