Circulating plasma microRNAs dysregulation and metabolic endotoxemia induced by a high-fat high-saturated diet

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of high-fat high-saturated meal ingestion on plasma miRNA expression and LPS levels during the postprandial period in healthy women. An interventional study was carried out in which a high-fat breakfast (1067.45kcal), composed mainly of saturated fatty acids (56g), and 500mL of water, was offered. Blood samples were collected at baseline and 1, 3 and 5h after meal intake. The studied population consisted of healthy women (n=11), aged between 20 and 40 years, and body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 25kg/m2. Plasma levels of lipid profile, cytokines, adhesion molecules, and LPS were measured at the 3 time points. A profile of 752 human plasma miRNA expression was analyzed by real-time PCR assay. These analyzes were performed for all blood collection time-points. Expression profile analysis revealed 33 differentially expressed plasma circulating miRNAs compared to that of the control group. MiR-145-5p and miR-200 were differentially modulated in all time-points post meal consumption. In addition, there was a significant increase in plasma LPS, triglycerides, myristic and palmitic saturated fatty acids levels at the 3 time-points in comparison with the control basal levels. We also observed increased levels of the plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) cytokine and the vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) levels after 5h post meal ingestion. Ingestion of high-fat high-saturated meal was able to induce metabolic endotoxemia and increase the expression of pro-inflammatory molecules such as TNF-alpha and VCAM-1, as well as modulating circulating miRNAs possibly controlling inflammatory and lipid metabolism proteins at the postprandial period.