Epigenetics & Chromatin

Obesity is caused by the eff ects of diverse genetic factors and decreased physical activity along with malnutrition. It causes hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and severe psychological stresses and is seen increased frequency in childhood. Perilipin is known as fat drip-associated protein or PLIN1 and encoded by the PLIN1 gene. Phosphorylations are necessary for the mobilization of adipose tissue fats Perilipin provides protection of adipocytes from natural lipases by covering lipid droplets in adipocytes and is an important regulator of fat storage. Some of the microRNAs, one of the epigenetic factors, can alter expression by targeting PLIN1 mRNA. We aimed to determine the eff ects of PLIN1 gene expression and miRNAs in childhood obesity by illuminating the related pathway, to exhibited the genetic basis of the disease and to contribute to the development of microRNA-based therapies. In a sample of 135 unrelated subjects (35 persons with PD and 100 healthy controls), we analysed here 4 candidate miRNA expression in whole blood samples as measured by real-time PCR (hsa-miR-4777-3p, hsa-miR-642b-3p, hsa-miR-3671-3p, and hsa-miR-551b-2) that target PLIN1. We found that the hsa-miR-642b-3p is upregulated and PLIN1 expression is low in patients according to control. It is possible that the PLIN1 expression is under the control of this miRNA. To the best of our knowledge, this is the fi rst clinical expression association study of the aforementioned candidate miRNAs in childhood obesity using peripheral samples. Th ese observations may guide future clinical biomarker and diagnostics research on chilhood obesity in studies.