MicroRNAs: Tiny biomolecules with soaring impact in regulation of metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Dysregulated physiological pathways are a hallmark of metabolic syndromes and often act as cancer risk factors. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have become important regulators of many biological processes, including growth, development and metabolism. MicroRNAs often play a dual role in metabolic syndromes and cancer development through the modulation of pathways that affect cell proliferation, energy balance, and cellular stress responses. Obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, dyslipidemia do always remain ‘list toppers’ since the inception of the concept of ‘metabolic syndrome’. Aberrantly expressed miRNAs exhibit to play a pivotal role in disturbed metabolic pathways, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress rendering people predisposed to these metabolic disorders. MicroRNAs can diagnose and predict outcomes in various pathophysiological instances. Hence, miRNA profiles can act as biomarkers for early illness diagnosis, disease progression, and treatment response. The complex crosstalk between different metabolic pathways may be managed by using miRNAs as therapeutic targets or tools for precision medicine. The current review focuses on elaborating the complex functions played by miRNAs in bridging the gap between the unexplored areas of metabolic syndromes, keeping cancer off this discussion.