Circulating microRNA levels differ in the early stages of insulin resistance in prepubertal children with obesity

Aims: The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity escalates the risk for related complications. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been suggested as good predictive markers of insulin resistance in those with obesity. The aim was to identify a circulating miRNA profile that reflects insulin resistance in prepubertal children with obesity. Material and methods: Plasma miRNAs were measured in prepubertal children (n = 63, 5–9 years) using TaqMan Advanced miRNA Human Serum/Plasma plates and then were validated by RT-qPCR. Subjects were divided into normal weight (n = 20, NW) and overweight or obese (n = 43, OW/OB) groups according to their BMI z-scores. The OW/OB group was further subdivided into insulin sensitive or metabolically healthy obese (n = 26, MHO) and insulin resistant or metabolically unhealthy obese (n = 17, MUO) according to HOMA-IR. Key findings: While no differences were observed in the fasting plasma glucose levels, serum insulin levels were significantly elevated in the OW/OB compared to the NW group. Of 188 screened miRNAs, eleven were differentially expressed between the NW and OW/OB groups. Validation confirmed increased circulating levels of miR-146a-5p and miR-18a-5p in the OW/OB group, which correlated with BMI z-score. Interestingly, miR-146a-5p was also correlated with HOMA-IR index. While only miR-18a-5p was upregulated in the OW/OB children, independently of their degree of insulin sensitivity, miR-146-5p, miR-423-3p and miR-152-3p were associated with insulin resistance. Significance: The present study provides evidence of molecular alterations that occur early in life in prepubertal obesity. These alterations may potentially be crucial for targeted prevention or prompt precision therapeutic development and subsequent interventions.