miRNAs are small regulatory RNA molecules the modulate gene expression by binding to their target mRNAs and either promoting mRNA degradation or inhibiting translation. They are known to be key regulators of many metabolic processes. In the past year, we used a bioinformatic approach for identifying miRNAs that may serve as key regulatory hubs in lipid metabolism. Using this approach, we found that miR-27b was predicted to regulate more lipid-related genes than other miRNAs. We then went on to demonstrate that miRNA does indeed modulated several key genes in lipid metabolism, such Gpam and Angptl3. We are currently examining the in vivo effect of miR-27B on lipid metabolism in mice.
| Vickers, Kasey C; Shoucri, Bassem M; Levin, Michael G et al. (2013) MicroRNA-27b is a regulatory hub in lipid metabolism and is altered in dyslipidemia. Hepatology 57:533-42 |
| Vickers, Kasey C; Palmisano, Brian T; Shoucri, Bassem M et al. (2011) MicroRNAs are transported in plasma and delivered to recipient cells by high-density lipoproteins. Nat Cell Biol 13:423-33 |
| Vickers, Kasey C; Remaley, Alan T (2010) MicroRNAs in atherosclerosis and lipoprotein metabolism. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes 17:150-5 |
| Vickers, Kasey C; Palmisano, Brian T; Remaley, Alan T (2010) The role of noncoding ""junk DNA"" in cardiovascular disease. Clin Chem 56:1518-20 |
