EP2561102A1 - Interventions et diagnostic associé à irak - Google Patents

Interventions et diagnostic associé à irak

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Publication number
EP2561102A1
EP2561102A1 EP11793724A EP11793724A EP2561102A1 EP 2561102 A1 EP2561102 A1 EP 2561102A1 EP 11793724 A EP11793724 A EP 11793724A EP 11793724 A EP11793724 A EP 11793724A EP 2561102 A1 EP2561102 A1 EP 2561102A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
mir
monocyte
adiponectin
micrornas
group
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EP11793724A
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German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Paul Holvoet
Maarten Hulsmans
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Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
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Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12Q—MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS; COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES
    • C12Q1/00—Measuring or testing processes involving enzymes, nucleic acids or microorganisms; Compositions therefor; Processes of preparing such compositions
    • C12Q1/68—Measuring or testing processes involving enzymes, nucleic acids or microorganisms; Compositions therefor; Processes of preparing such compositions involving nucleic acids
    • C12Q1/6876—Nucleic acid products used in the analysis of nucleic acids, e.g. primers or probes
    • C12Q1/6883—Nucleic acid products used in the analysis of nucleic acids, e.g. primers or probes for diseases caused by alterations of genetic material
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12Q—MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS; COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES
    • C12Q2600/00—Oligonucleotides characterized by their use
    • C12Q2600/106—Pharmacogenomics, i.e. genetic variability in individual responses to drugs and drug metabolism
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12Q—MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS; COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES
    • C12Q2600/00—Oligonucleotides characterized by their use
    • C12Q2600/112—Disease subtyping, staging or classification
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12Q—MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS; COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES
    • C12Q2600/00—Oligonucleotides characterized by their use
    • C12Q2600/158—Expression markers
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12Q—MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS; COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES
    • C12Q2600/00—Oligonucleotides characterized by their use
    • C12Q2600/178—Oligonucleotides characterized by their use miRNA, siRNA or ncRNA

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to a new cluster of molecules that affects oxidative stress, inflammation, and/or insulin signaling in white blood cells, particularly monocytes, and to identifying the optimal method or system to modulate the activity of said molecules.
  • diseases associated with activated monocytes such as obesity and obesity-related metabolic syndrome disorder phenotype characterized by dyslipidemia, hypertension, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance and diabetes, lipid homeostasis disorders and/or cardiovascular diseases.
  • these molecules are microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) that can be present in the cell, in cell-derived vesicles that are secreted in blood, and can be detected in plasma or serum.
  • a diagnostics method or system for instance a diagnostic, which provides information on how to modulate the molecules to treat or prevent obesity, to separate responders from non-responders, and to treat or prevent the obesity-related metabolic syndrome disorders.
  • the degree of health impairment of obesity is determined by three factors: 1) the amount of fat 2) the distribution of fat and 3) the presence of other risk factors. It is the second leading cause of preventable death in the Western society and an increasing cause on modernizing societies. Obesity affects all major bodily systems -heart, lung, muscle and bones-and is considered as a major risk factor for several chronic disease conditions, including coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, stroke, and cancers of the breast, endometrium, prostate and colon 4 .
  • Central obesity male-type or waist-predominant obesity, characterized by a high waist-hip ratio
  • a metabolic syndrome the clustering of a number of diseases and risk factors that heavily predispose for cardiovascular disease. These are diabetes mellitus type 2, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and triglyceride levels (combined hyperlipidemia) 7 ' 8 .
  • diabetes mellitus type 2 high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and triglyceride levels (combined hyperlipidemia) 7 ' 8 .
  • triglyceride levels combined hyperlipidemia 7 ' 8 .
  • obesity is also correlated with a variety of other complications. For some of these complaints, it has not been clearly established to what extent they are caused directly by obesity itself, or have some other cause (such as limited exercise) that causes obesity as well.
  • Cardiovascular congestive heart failure, enlarged heart and its associated arrhythmias and dizziness, varicose veins, and pulmonary embolism.
  • Endocrine polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), menstrual disorders, and infertility 9
  • Gastrointestinal gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), fatty liver disease, cholelithiasis (gallstones), hernia, and colorectal cancer.
  • Renal and genitourinary erectile dysfunction 10 , urinary incontinence, chronic renal failure n , hypogonadism (male), breast cancer (female), uterine cancer (female), stillbirth.
  • Integument skin and appendages : stretch marks, acanthosis nigricans, lymphedema, cellulitis, carbuncles, intertrigo.
  • Musculoskeletal hyperuricemia (which predisposes to gout), immobility, osteoarthritis, low back pain.
  • Neurologic stroke, meralgia paresthetica, headache, carpal tunnel syndrome, dementia 12 , idiopathic intracranial hypertension.
  • Respiratory obstructive sleep apnea, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, asthma.
  • Psychological Depression, low self esteem, body dimorphic disorder, social stigmatization.
  • oxidized LDL oxidized LDL
  • IR insulin resistance
  • Increased inflammation 16,17 and oxidative stress 18-21 were found to be associated with the metabolic syndrome. It is a primary risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Recent data suggest that increased oxidative stress in adipose tissue is an early instigator of the metabolic syndrome and that the redox state in adipose tissue is a potentially useful therapeutic target for the obesity-associated metabolic syndrome 22 .
  • Oxidative damage of adipose tissues is associated with impaired ad ipocyte maturation, production of pro-inflammatory adipocytokines by dysfunctional adipocytes, and increased infiltration of activated macrophages into the adipose tissues of obese persons where they produce inflammatory chemokines 23 .
  • This enhanced infiltration is causatively related to the loss of insulin signaling .
  • WO2010133970 discloses that miR-103 is upregulated in liver cells of obese mice and that inhibition of miR-103 leads to an improvement of several obesitas/insulin resistance parameters. Surprisingly, as also described in more detail herein below, the inventors of the current application have found that the opposite is true in monocytes.
  • miR-181b-l is pro-inflammatory in endothelial or cancer cells. They also show that miR-181 b-l directly inhibits expression of CYLD, which in its turn is known to inhibit N F-KB activity 24 . Surprisingly, as also described in more detail herein below, the inventors of the current application have found that miR-181 b is anti-inflammatory in monocytes.
  • WO2010129919 focuses on the influence of let-7 (including let-7a - let-7i) on asthma and lung inflammation. They show that let-7a, and likely the other let-7 miRNAs, directly targets IL-13 expression.
  • let-7c and let-7g are anti-inflammatory in monocytes.
  • miR-130 potently suppresses PPARy in adipocytes 25 . Since PPARy is known to inhibit inflammation in monocytes , one would thus expect miR-130 to stimulate inflammation in monocytes. However, as described in more detail herein below, the inventors of the current application have found that miR-130 is associated with decreased inflammation in monocytes. The above examples clearly show that the same miRNA can have very different, even opposite, effects in different tissues and diseases 27 .
  • the invention is broadly drawn to molecules for treatment of the condition and for testing and predicting the efficacy of his or her treatment.
  • the present invention solves the problems of the related art by providing a combination of molecules for the treatment of an activated monocyte, which is characterized by an increased inflammatory state and/or an increased oxidative stress state and/or a deregulated insulin signaling.
  • Treatment of said monocyte is particularly useful in the treatment of related diseases such as metabolic syndrome disorder, an inflammatory disorder, an oxidative stress disorder, an impaired glucose tolerance, an insulin resistance condition, the progression of an adipocyte tissue disorder, such as an impaired adipose tissue accumulation or adipocyte function; metabolic syndrome, and related cardiovascular diseases.
  • related diseases such as metabolic syndrome disorder, an inflammatory disorder, an oxidative stress disorder, an impaired glucose tolerance, an insulin resistance condition, the progression of an adipocyte tissue disorder, such as an impaired adipose tissue accumulation or adipocyte function; metabolic syndrome, and related cardiovascular diseases.
  • the diagnostic tools for testing and predicting the efficacy of the optimal combination of molecules are provided.
  • the biomarkers of present invention in white blood cells (WBCs), or leukocytes (also spelled “leucocytes”) for instance T lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils and most preferably the monocyte type of white blood cell can be analysed using high speed microfluidic single cell impedance cytometry as for instance been described by David Holmes and Hywel Morgan 28 .
  • this invention identifies miRNAs which regulate monocyte activation and inflammation, oxidative stress and/or insulin signaling in tissues infiltrated by these monocytes (e.g. adipose tissues, vascular tissues). Said miRNAs are relevant for treatment of an oxidative stress state and/or inflammatory state and/or insulin signaling deregulation in monocytes, which leads to the prevention and/or treatment of obesity and obesity-related metabolic syndrome disorders, and cardiovascular diseases.
  • Adiponectin is an antidiabetic adipokine, which enhances insulin action and inhibits the oxidative stress state and inflammatory state in monocytes, thereby inhibiting causes of among others metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases.
  • resistance to adiponectin has been shown in obesity and following chronic high fat feeding and adiponectin treatment may even contribute to lipid accumulation observed in these conditions.
  • the present invention identifies miRNAs that regulate the inhibitory effects of adiponectin or adiponectin mimetics on oxidative stress and inflammation in monocytes.
  • the present invention thus provides means to differentiate reponders from non-responders to adiponectin treatment.
  • the present invention provides a medicinal solution for adiponectin resistance.
  • the modulators of the miRNAs of the present invention can be used as a conjunctive therapy to a treatment with adiponectin or adiponectin mimetics.
  • miR-146b-5p, IRAK3, SOD2, TNFAIP6, TNFAIP3, TLR2, and TNFa are known to play an important role in inflammation, oxidative stress and/or insulin signaling in monocytes and are therefore a known target for the treatment of associated diseases such as obesity and insulin resistance. Therefore, the modulators of the miRNAs of the present invention can be used in a combination therapy with agents that modulate one or more targets known to play an important role in inflammation, oxidative stress and/or insulin signaling in monocytes, such as for example selected from miR-146b-5p, IRAK3, SOD2, TNFAIP6, TNFAIP3, TLR2, and TNFa.
  • the modulators of the miRNAs of the present invention can be used in a combination therapy with an IRAK3 modulator; more in particular with a modulator that increases the expression and/or activity of IRAK3.
  • Said combination therapy can optionally further include agents that modulate one or more targets known to play an important role in inflammation, oxidative stress and/or insulin signaling in monocytes, such as for example selected from miR-146b-5p, SOD2, TNFAIP6, TNFAIP3, TLR2, and TNFa.
  • This method of IRAK3 activation is also particularly suitable for treating adiponectin resistance disorders or adiponectin deficiency pathological processes such as endoplasmatic reticulum stress-induced adiponectin downregulation -induced adiponectin -resistance and to decrease increased risk of cancer due to induced adiponectin downregulation and leptin upregulation for instance by obesity.
  • This method of IRAK3 activation is also particularly suitable for use in a conjunctive therapy with adiponectin or adiponectin mimetics to prevent stress-induced damage in the heart; to enhance adiponectin treatment of hyperproliferation or to enhance adiponectin inhibited angiogenesis in for instance an anti-cancer or anti-tumor therapy.
  • the present invention provides a means, for instance diagnostic tool or a diagnostic method to identify persons who have WBCs with an increased inflammatory state, an increased oxidative stress state and/or deregulated insulin signaling, in particular activated monocytes.
  • the miRNAs of the present invention can be quantified or qualified in a sample obtained from said person.
  • said sample is a blood-derived sample.
  • the miRNAs of present invention can for example be quantified or qualified on isolated WBCs, or leukocytes (also spelled "leucocytes") for instance T lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils and most preferably the monocyte type of white blood cell.
  • a lab on chip microfluidic set-up to remove red blood cells from the sample and isolate WBCs uses electrodes to measure each blood cell's electrical properties and identify said cells as blood flows through the device's channels, suitable for distinguishing and counting the different types of cell, providing information used in the diagnosis, and in monitoring the treatment, of numerous diseases as for instance been described by David Holmes and Hywel Morgan 28 whereby the blood cells are identified as they flow through a microfluidic device.
  • Alternative methods are power-free microfluidics using capillary forces to pull the blood or other samples.
  • the currently routine blood analysis uses flow cytometry.
  • the miRNAs of the present invention can be quantified or qualified on isolated microvesicles, particularly on monocyte-derived microvesicles.
  • the above means also allows to identifying persons in which treatment with adiponectin or adiponectin mimetics can decrease the risk of monocyte activation in inflammation and/or oxidative stress-related and/or insulin resistance-related diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and the metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis and/or cardiovascular diseases.
  • the quantification or qualification of the miRNAs of the present invention in WBCs, particularly monocytes can be further complemented with the quantification or qualification of other markers, such as on or more targets known to play an important role in inflammation, oxidative stress and/or insulin signaling in monocytes, such as for example selected from miR-146b-5p, IRAK3, SOD2, TNFAIP6, TNFAIP3, TLR2, and TNFa.
  • Such method is particularly useful to identify the responder patients to a treatment of adiponectin or adiponectin mimetics.
  • the present invention provides a method to identify miRNA to which mimics will improve and/or restore the anti-inflammatory and/or antioxidative and/or the insulin sensitizing response in blood monocytes and infiltrated tissues (e.g. adipose and vascular tissues), in particular in persons with obesity and obesity-related disorders as disclosed above.
  • the present invention provides a method to identify miRNA to which mimics will improve and/or restore the antiinflammatory and/or antioxidative and/or the insulin sensitizing actions of adiponectin.
  • Myeloid refers to the nonlymphocytic groups of white blood cells, including the granulocytes, monocytes and platelets.
  • Insulinemia concerns an abnormally large concentration of insulin in the blood.
  • Glycemia concerns the presence of glucose in the blood. It is a medical term meaning that the blood glucose is elevated, typically above 100 mg/dl.
  • Hypercholesterolemia is manifested by elevation of the total cholesterol due to elevation of the "bad" low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood.
  • LDL-cholesterol levels for adults with diabetes are less than 100 mg/dL (2.60 mmol/L).
  • Triglycerides are the major form of fat.
  • a triglyceride consists of three molecules of fatty acid combined with a molecule of the alcohol glycerol.
  • Triglycerides serve as the backbone of many types of lipids (fats).
  • Triglycerides come from the food we eat as well as from being produced by the body.
  • Triglyceride levels are influenced by recent fat and alcohol intake, and should be measured after fasting for at least 12 hours. A period of abstinence from alcohol is advised before testing for triglycerides. Markedly high triglyceride levels (greater than 500mg/dl) can cause inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).
  • triglyceride reflects the fact that a triglyceride consists of three (“tri-") molecules of fatty acid combined with a molecule of the alcohol glycerol (“-glyceride”) that serves as the backbone in many types of lipids (fats).
  • HDL-cholesterol concerns lipoproteins, which are combinations of lipids (fats) and proteins, are the form in which lipids are transported in the blood.
  • the high-density lipoproteins transport cholesterol from the tissues of the body to the liver so it can be gotten rid of (in the bile).
  • HDL-cholesterol is therefore considered the "good" cholesterol.
  • the higher the HDL-cholesterol level the lower the risk of coronary artery disease.
  • Even small increases in HDL-cholesterol reduce the frequency of heart attacks. For each 1 mg/dl increase in HDL- cholesterol there is a 2 to 4% reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease.
  • HDL-cholesterol Although there are no formal guidelines, proposed treatment goals for patients with low HDL-cholesterol are to increase HDL- cholesterol to above 35 mg/dl in men and 45 mg/dl in women with a family history of coronary heart disease; and to increase HDL- cholesterol to approach 45 mg/dl in men and 55 mg/dl in women with known coronary heart disease.
  • the first step in increasing HDL- cholesterol levels is life style modification. Regular aerobic exercise, loss of excess weight (fat), and cessation of cigarette smoking cigarettes will increase HDL-cholesterol levels. Moderate alcohol consumption (such as one drink a day) also raises HDL-cholesterol. When life style modifications are insufficient, medications are used. Medications that are effective in increasing HDL-cholesterol include nicotinic acid (niacin), gemfibrozil (Lopid), estrogen, and to a lesser extent, the statin drugs.
  • Hypertension or High blood pressure is defined as a repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceeding 140 over 90 mmHg — a systolic pressure above 140 with a diastolic pressure above 90.
  • Chronic hypertension is a "silent" condition. Stealthy as a cat, it can cause blood vessel changes in the back of the eye (retina), abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, kidney failure, and brain damage. For diagnosis, there is no substitute for measurement of blood pressure. Not having your blood pressure checked (or checking it yourself) is an invitation to hypertension. No specific cause for hypertension is found in 95% of cases. Hypertension is treated with regular aerobic exercise, weight reduction (if overweight), salt restriction, and medications.
  • type 2 is one of the two major types of diabetes, the type in which the beta cells of the pancreas produce insulin but the body is unable to use it effectively because the cells of the body are resistant to the action of insulin. Although this type of diabetes may not carry the same risk of death from ketoacidosis, it otherwise involves many of the same risks of complications as type 1 diabetes (in which there is a lack of insulin).
  • the aim of treatment is to normalize the blood glucose in an attempt to prevent or minimize complications. People with type 2 diabetes may experience marked hyperglycemia, but most do not require insulin injections. In fact, 80% of all people with type 2 diabetes can be treated with diet, exercise, and, if needed be, oral hypoglycemic agents (drugs taken by mouth to lower the blood sugar).
  • Type 2 diabetes requires good dietary control including the restriction of calories, lowered consumption of simple carbohydrates and fat with increased consumption of complex carbohydrates and fiber. Regular aerobic exercise is also an important method for treating both type 2 diabetes since it decreases insulin resistance and helps burn excessive glucose. Regular exercise also may help lower blood lipids and reduce some effects of stress, both important factors in treating diabetes and preventing complications. Type 2 diabetes is also known as insulin- resistant diabetes, non-insulin dependent diabetes, and adult-onset diabetes.
  • Systolic The blood pressure when the heart is contracting . It is specifically the maximum arterial pressure during contraction of the left ventricle of the heart. The time at which ventricular contraction occurs is called systole. In a blood pressure reading, the systolic pressure is typically the first number recorded. For example, with a blood pressure of 120/80 ("120 over 80"), the systolic pressure is 120. By “120” is meant 120 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury).
  • a systolic murmur is a heart murmur heard during systole, the time the heart contracts, between the normal first and second heart sounds.
  • ischemic stroke is death of an area of brain tissue (cerebral infarction) resulting from an inadequate supply of blood and oxygen to the brain due to blockage of an artery. Ischemic stroke usually results when an artery to the brain is blocked, often by a blood clot or a fatty deposit due to atherosclerosis.
  • Symptoms occur suddenly and may include muscle weakness, paralysis, lost or abnormal sensation on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, confusion, problems with vision, dizziness, and loss of balance and coordination. Diagnosis is usually based on symptoms and results of a physical examination, imaging tests, and blood tests. Treatment may include drugs to break up blood clots or to make blood less likely to clot and surgery, followed by rehabilitation. About one third of people recover all or most of normal function after an ischemic stroke. Ischemic stroke occurs when local blood flow is suddenly limited by vessel occlusion. The rate of neuronal death varies with blood flow. If blood flow falls to less than 15 mL/100 g/min, energy failure and subsequent cell death occur within minutes.
  • Insulin resistance is the diminished ability of cells to respond to the action of insulin in transporting glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream into muscle and other tissues. Insulin resistance typically develops with obesity and heralds the onset of type 2 diabetes. It is as if insulin is "knocking" on the door of muscle. The muscle hears the knock, opens up, and lets glucose in. But with insulin resistance, the muscle cannot hear the knocking of the insulin (the muscle is "resistant”). The pancreas makes more insulin, which increases insulin levels in the blood and causes a louder "knock.” Eventually, the pancreas produces far more insulin than normal and the muscles continue to be resistant to the knock. As long as one can produce enough insulin to overcome this resistance, blood glucose levels remain normal.
  • Insulin resistance is an early feature and finding in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes associated with obesity is the development is insulin resistance, defined as impaired insulin-mediated glucose clearance in insulin- sensitive tissues (skeletal muscle, liver and adipose tissue). Insulin resistance is the condition in which normal amounts of insulin are inadequate to produce a normal insulin response from fat, muscle and liver cells. Insulin resistance in fat cells reduces the effects of insulin and results in elevated hydrolysis of stored triglycerides in the absence of measures which either increase insulin sensitivity or which provide additional insulin. Increased mobilization of stored lipids in these cells elevates free fatty acids in the blood plasma.
  • Insulin resistance in muscle cells reduces glucose uptake (and so local storage of glucose as (glycogen), whereas insulin resistance in liver cells reduces storage of glycogen, making it unavailable for release into the blood when blood insulin levels fall (normally only when blood glucose levels are at low storage: Both lead to elevated blood glucose levels.
  • High plasma levels of insulin and glucose due to insulin resistance often lead to metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, including its complications.
  • WHO/IDF World Health Organization
  • the two main contributors to the worldwide increase in prevalence of diabetes are population ageing and urbanization, especially in developing countries, with the consequent increase in the prevalence of obesity (WHO/IDF, 2004).
  • Cardiovascular diseases refer to the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels (arteries and veins). While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system, it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis (arterial disease).
  • the circulatory system (or cardiovascular system) is an organ system that moves nutrients, gases, and wastes to and from cells, helps fight diseases and helps stabilize body temperature and pH to maintain homeostasis. While humans, as well as other vertebrates, have a closed circulatory system (meaning that the blood never leaves the network of arteries, veins and capillaries), some invertebrate groups have open circulatory system.
  • the present diagnostic invention is particularly suitable for a cardiovascular disease of the group consisting of hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart failure, congestive heart failure, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, stroke, cerebrovascular disease, myocardial infarction and peripheral vascular disease.
  • arteriosclerosis arteriolosclerosis
  • atherosclerosis arteriosclerosis
  • Arteriosclerosis also called hardening of the arteries chronic disease is characterized by abnormal thickening and hardening of the walls of arteries, with a resulting loss of elasticity.
  • the major form of arteriosclerosis is atherosclerosis, in which plaques of consisting of macrophages, fatty deposits in foam cells, or atheromas, form on the inner walls of the arteries. These fatty acids are largely due to the uptake of oxidized LDL by macrophages.
  • Arteriosclerosis is a general term describing any hardening (and loss of elasticity) of medium or large arteries (in Greek, "Arterio” meaning artery and “sclerosis” meaning hardening); arteriolosclerosis is arteriosclerosis mainly affecting the arterioles (small arteries); atherosclerosis is a hardening of an artery specifically due to an atheromatous plaque. Therefore, atherosclerosis is a form of arteriosclerosis.
  • Arteriosclerosis (“hardening of the artery") results from a deposition of tough, rigid collagen inside the vessel wall and around the atheroma. This increases the stiffness, decreases the elasticity of the artery wall.
  • Arteriolosclerosis hardening of small arteries, the arterioles
  • Calcification sometimes even ossification (formation of complete bone tissue) occurs within the deepest and oldest layers of the sclerosed vessel wall.
  • Atherosclerosis causes two main problems. First, the atheromatous plaques, though long compensated for by artery enlargement, eventually lead to plaque ruptures and stenosis (narrowing) of the artery and, therefore, an insufficient blood supply to the organ it feeds. If the compensating artery enlargement is excessive, a net aneurysm occurs.
  • Atherosclerosis chronic disease is caused by the deposition of fats, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances in the innermost layer (endothelium) of the large and medium-sized arteries.
  • Atherosclerosis is a disease affecting the arterial blood vessel. It is commonly referred to as a “hardening” or “furring” of the arteries. It is caused by the formation of multiple plaques within the arteries.
  • the atheromatous plaque is divided into three distinct components: the nodular accumulation of a soft, flaky, yellowish material at the centre of large plaques composed of macrophages nearest the lumen of the artery; sometimes with underlying areas of cholesterol crystals; and possibly also calcification at the outer base of older/more advanced lesions.
  • Thrombogenicity refers to the tendency of a material in contact with the blood to produce a thrombus, or clot. It not only refers to fixed thrombi but also to emboli, thrombi which have become detached and travel through the bloodstream. Thrombogenicity can also encompass events such as the activation of immune pathways and the complement system. All materials are considered to be thrombogenic with the exception of the endothelial cells which line the vasculature. Certain medical implants appear non-thrombogenic due to high flow rates of blood past the implant, but in reality, all are thrombogenic to a degree. A thrombogenic implant will eventually be covered by a fibrous capsule, the thickness of this capsule can be considered one measure of thrombogenicity, and if extreme can lead to the failure of the implant.
  • LDL Low-density lipoprotein
  • Apo B-100 a protein with 4536 amino acid residues
  • LDL has a highly-hydrophobic core consisting of polyunsaturated fatty acid known as linoleate and about 1500 esterified cholesterol molecules.
  • Cholesterol is an animal sterol that is normally synthesized by the liver.
  • the main types, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) carry cholesterol from and to the liver, respectively.
  • LDL-cholesterol concerns thus the cholesterol in low-density lipoproteins.
  • Cholesterol is required in the membrane of mammalian cells for normal cellular function, and is either synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum, or derived from the diet, in which case it is delivered by the bloodstream in low-density lipoproteins.
  • Oxidized LDL- cholesterol concerns a LDL-cholesterol that has been bombarded by free radicals; it is thought to cause atherosclerosis; the " bad' cholesterol; a high level in the blood is thought to be related to various pathogenic conditions
  • Metabolic syndrome is a combination of medical disorders that increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. It affects a large number of people, and prevalence increases with age. Some studies estimate the prevalence in the USA to be up to 25% of the population. Metabolic syndrome is also known as metabolic syndrome X, syndrome X, insulin resistance syndrome, Reaven's syndrome or CHAOS.
  • Metabolic syndrome components were defined as detailed in the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in adults (ATPIII) report: 1) waist circumference ⁇ 102 cm in men and ⁇ 88 cm in women; 2) fasting triglycerides ⁇ 150 mg/dl (1.70 mmol/l); 3) HDL-cholesterol ⁇ 40 mg/d l (1.03 mmol/l) in men and ⁇ 50 mg/dl (1.29 mmol/l) in women; 4) blood pressure ⁇ 130/85 mmHg or on anti-hypertensive medication; 5) fasting-glucose ⁇ 100 mg/dl (5.55 mmol/l) or on anti-diabetic med ication.
  • Activated monocytes are monocytes that are associated with increased inflammation, often due to activation of the toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 (and/or -4), an increase in interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK)-l and 4, and a decrease in the interleukin-1 receptor- associated kinase (IRAK)-3 (sometimes called IRAKM) and an increase in N FKB activity 29,3 °, and/or an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress, often due to loss of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide d ismutase (SODs) 21,31 , and/or a loss of insulin sig naling and insulin resistance, for example by loss of expression of the insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-l and -2 32 .
  • TLR toll-like receptor
  • IRAK interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase
  • IRAK interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase
  • ROS reactive oxygen species
  • monocyte chemotactic protein 1 MCP1 or otherwise called chemokine CC motif ligand or CCL2
  • MCP1 monocyte chemotactic protein 1
  • CCL2 chemokine CC motif ligand
  • microRNA refers to any type of interfering RNAs, including but not limited to, endogenous microRNAs and artificial microRNAs. Endogenous microRNAs are small RNAs naturally present in the genome which are capable of modulation the productive utilization of mRNA.
  • An artificial microRNA can be any type of RNA sequence, other than endogeneous microRNA, which is capable of modulation the productive utilization of mRNA. For instance, it includes sequences previously identified as siRNA, regardless of the mechanism of down-stream processing of the RNA.
  • a microRNA sequence can be an RNA molecule composed of any one or more of these sequences.
  • agents are known that modulate microRNAs. These include, but are not limited to microRNA mimics and microRNA inhibitors.
  • a "miRNA mimic” is an agent used to increase the expression and/or function of a miRNA.
  • the miRNA mimic can also increase, supplement, or replace the function of a natural miRNA.
  • the miRNA mimic may be a polynucleotide comprising the mature miRNA sequence.
  • the miRNA mimic may be a polynucleotide comprising the pri-miRNA or pre-miRNA sequence.
  • the miRNA mimic may contain chemical modifications, such as locked nucleic acids, peptide nucleic acids, sugar modifications, such as 2'-0- alkyl (e.g.
  • a “miRNA inhibitor” is an agent that inhibits miRNA function in a sequence-specific manner.
  • the miRNA inhibitor is an antagomir.
  • “Antagomirs” are single-stranded, chemically-modified ribonucleotides that are at least partially complementary to the miRNA sequence.
  • Antagomirs may comprise one or more modified nucleotides, such as 2'-0-methyl-sugar modifications. In some embodiments, antagomirs comprise only modified nucleotides.
  • Antagomirs may also comprise one or more phosphorothioate linkages resulting in a partial or full phosphorothioate backbone.
  • antagomir may be linked to a cholesterol moiety at its 3' end.
  • Antagomirs suitable for inhibiting miRNAs may be about 15 to about 50 nucleotides in length, more preferably about 18 to about 30 nucleotides in length, and most preferably about 20 to about 25 nucleotides in length.
  • “Partially complementary” refers to a sequence that is at least about 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% complementary to a target polynucleotide sequence.
  • the antagomirs may be at least about 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% complementary to a mature miRNA sequence. In some embodiments, the antagomirs are 100% complementary to the mature miRNA sequence.
  • sample or “biological sample” as used herein can be any organ, tissue, cell, or cell extract isolated from a subject, a cell-derived vesicle, such as a sample isolated from a mammal having a metabolic syndrome disorder or at risk for a metabolic syndrome disorder (e.g., based on family history or personal history).
  • a sample can include, without limitation, cells or tissue (e.g., from a biopsy or autopsy), peripheral blood, whole blood, red cell concentrates, platelet concentrates, leukocyte concentrates, blood cell proteins, blood plasma, platelet-rich plasma, a plasma concentrate, a precipitate from any fractionation of the plasma, a supernatant from any fractionation of the plasma, blood plasma protein fractions, purified or partially purified blood proteins or other components, serum, tissue or fine needle biopsy samples, or any other specimen, or any extract thereof, obtained from a patient (human or animal), test subject, healthy volunteer, or experimental animal.
  • a subject can be a human, rat, mouse, non-human primate, etc.
  • a sample may also include sections of tissues such as frozen sections taken for histological purposes.
  • sample may also be a cell or cell line created under experimental conditions, that is not directly isolated from a subject.
  • the sample is selected from the group consisting of (a) a liquid containing cells; (b) a tissue-sample; (c) a cell-sample; (d) a cell-derived vesicle; (e) a cell biopsy; more in particular the sample comprises hematopoietic cells or blood cells; even more in particular the sample comprises at least one myeloid cell or debris thereof.
  • the sample comprises at least one of monocytes or peripheral blood mononuclear cells or debris thereof.
  • a sample can also be a blood-derived sample, like plasma or serum.
  • the miRNAs of the present invention can be quantified or qualified on isolated microvesicles, particularly on monocyte-derived microvesicles.
  • a "control" or “reference” includes a sample obtained for use in determining base-line expression or activity. Accordingly, a control sample may be obtained by a number of means including from subjects not having a metabolic syndrome disorder; from subjects not suspected of being at risk for developing a metabolic syndrome disorder; or from cells or cell lines derived from such subjects.
  • a control also includes a previously established standard, such as a previously characterized pool of RNA or protein extracts from monocytes of at least 20 subjects without any of the metabolic syndrome components as defined above.
  • any test or assay conducted according to the invention may be compared with the established standard and it may not be necessary to obtain a control sample for comparison each time.
  • the inflammatory state of a cell can be measured by determining well-known inflammatory parameters associated with said cell. These parameters include certain chemokines and cytokines, including but not limited to IFN- ⁇ , IL- 1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-ot.
  • An increased inflammatory state of a cell refers to an increased amount of inflammatory parameters associated with said cell compared to a control cell.
  • a normal or decreased inflammatory state of a cell refers to a similar or decreased amount, respectively, of inflammatory parameters associated with said cell compared to a control cell.
  • the oxidative stress state of a cell can be meausured by determining well-known oxidative stress parameters, such as e.g. the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS).
  • oxidative stress parameters such as e.g. the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS).
  • ROS reactive oxygen species
  • Activation of insulin receptors leads to internal cellular mechanisms that directly affect glucose uptake by regulating the number and operation of protein molecules in the cell membrane that transport glucose into the cell.
  • the genes that specify the proteins that make up the insulin receptor in cell membranes have been identified, and the structures of the interior, transmembrane section, and the extra- membrane section of receptor have been solved.
  • muscle cells myocytes
  • adipocytes fat cells
  • Insulin binds to the extracellular portion of the alpha subunits of the insulin receptor. This, in turn, causes a conformational change in the insulin receptor that activates the kinase domain residing on the intracellular portion of the beta subunits.
  • the activated kinase domain autophosphorylates tyrosine residues on the C-terminus of the receptor as well as tyrosine residues in the IRS-1 protein.
  • phosphorylated IRS-1 in turn, binds to and activates phosphoinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)
  • PIP3 activates protein kinase B (PKB)
  • GSK glycogen synthase kinase
  • GSK can no longer phosphorylate glycogen synthase (GS)
  • PKB also facilitates vesicle fusion, resulting in an increase in GLUT4 transporters in the plasma membrane.
  • 40,41 Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Singleton et al., Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology 2nd ed., J. Wiley & Sons (New York, N.Y. 1994), Microarrays in Clinical Diagnostics ( ⁇ 2005 Humana Press Inc.) provide one skilled in the art with a general guide to many of the terms used in the present application.
  • array in general refers to an ordered arrangement of hybridizable array elements such as polynucleotide probes on a substrate.
  • An “array” is typically a spatially or logically organized collection, e.g., of oligonucleotide sequences or nucleotide sequence products such as RNA or proteins encoded by an oligonucleotide sequence.
  • an array includes antibodies or other binding reagents specific for products of a candidate library.
  • the array element may be an oligonucleotide, DNA fragment, polynucleotide, or the like, as defined below.
  • the array element may include any element immobilized on a solid support that is capable of binding with specificity to a target sequence such that gene expression may be determined, either qualitatively or quantitatively.
  • a “qualitative" difference in gene expression refers to a difference that is not assigned a relative value. That is, such a difference is designated by an "all or nothing" valuation.
  • Such an all or nothing variation can be, for example, expression above or below a threshold of detection (an on/off pattern of expression).
  • a qualitative difference can refer to expression of different types of expression products, e.g ., different alleles (e.g., a mutant or polymorphic allele), variants (including sequence variants as well as post-translationally modified variants), etc.
  • a "quantitative" difference when referring to a pattern of gene expression, refers to a difference in expression that can be assigned a value on a graduated scale, (e.g., a 0-5 or 1-10 scale, a + + + + scale, a grade 1 grade 5 scale, or the like; it will be understood that the numbers selected for illustration are entirely arbitrary and in no-way are meant to be interpreted to limit the invention).
  • Microarrays are useful in carrying out the methods disclosed herein because of the reproducibility between different experiments. DNA microarrays provide one method for the simultaneous measurement of the expression levels of large numbers of genes. Each array consists of a reproducible pattern of capture probes attached to a solid support.
  • RNA or DNA is hybridized to complementary probes on the array and then detected for instance by laser scanning. Hybridization intensities for each probe on the array are determined and converted to a quantitative value representing relative gene expression levels. See the patent publications Nos. US6040138, US5800992 and US6020135, US6033860, US 6344316, US7439346, US7371516, US7353116, US7348181, US7347921, US7335762 , US7335470, US7323308, US7321829, US7302348, US7276592, US7264929, US7244559, US7221785, US7211390, US7189509, US7138506, US7052842, US7047141 and US7031845 which are incorporated herein by reference.
  • a "DNA fragment” includes polynucleotides and/or oligonucleotides and refers to a plurality of joined nucleotide units formed from naturally-occurring bases and cyclofuranosyl groups joined by native phosphodiester bonds. This term effectively refers to naturally- occurring species or synthetic species formed from naturally-occurring subunits. "DNA fragment” also refers to purine and pyrimidine groups and moieties which function similarly but which have no naturally- occurring portions. Thus, DNA fragments may have altered sugar moieties or inter-sugar linkages.
  • nucleotide when used in singular or plural generally refers to any polyribonucleotide or polydeoxribonucleotide, which may be unmodified RNA or DNA or modified RNA or DNA.
  • polynucleotides as defined herein include, without limitation, single- and double-stranded DNA, DNA including single- and double- stranded regions, single- and double-stranded RNA, and RNA including single- and double-stranded regions, hybrid molecules comprising DNA and RNA that may be single-stranded or, more typically, double- stranded or include single- and double-stranded regions.
  • polynucleotide refers to triple-stranded regions comprising RNA or DNA or both RNA and DNA. The strands in such regions may be from the same molecule or from different molecules.
  • the regions may include all of one or more of the molecules, but more typically involve only a region of some of the molecules.
  • One of the molecules of a triple-helical region often is an oligonucleotide.
  • DNAs or RNAs with backbones modified for stability or for other reasons are “polynucleotides” as that term is intended herein.
  • DNAs or RNAs comprising unusual bases, such as inosine, or modified bases, such as tritiated bases are included within the term "polynucleotides” as defined herein.
  • polynucleotide embraces all chemically, enzymatically and/or metabolically modified forms of unmodified polynucleotides, as well as the chemical forms of DNA and RNA characteristic of cells, including simple and complex cells.
  • oligonucleotide refers to a relatively short polynucleotide, including, without limitation, single-stranded deoxyribonucleotides, single- or double-stranded ribonucleotides, RNA: DNA hybrids and double-stranded DNAs. Oligonucleotides, such as single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides, are often synthesized by chemical methods, for example using automated oligonucleotide synthesizers that are commercially available. However, oligonucleotides can be made by a variety of other methods, including in vitro recombinant DNA- mediated techniques and by expression of DNAs in cells.
  • differentially expressed gene refers to a gene whose expression is activated to a higher or lower level in a subject, relative to its expression in a normal or control subject.
  • a differentially expressed gene may be either activated or inhibited at the nucleic acid level or protein level, or may be subject to alternative splicing to result in a different polypeptide product. Such differences may be evidenced by a change in mRNA levels, surface expression, secretion or other partitioning of a polypeptide, for example.
  • Differential gene expression may include a comparison of expression between two or more genes, or a comparison of the ratios of the expression between two or more genes, or even a comparison of two differently processed products of the same gene, which differ between normal subjects and subjects suffering from a disease, or between various stages of the same disease.
  • Differential expression includes both quantitative, as well as qualitative, differences in the temporal or cellular expression pattern in a gene or its expression products.
  • differentiated gene expression can be present when there is, for example, at least an about a one to about two-fold, or about two to about four-fold, or about four to about six-fold, or about six to about eight-fold, or about eight to about ten-fold, or greater than about 11-fold difference between the expression of a given gene in a patient of interest compared to a suitable control.
  • folds change less than one is not intended to be excluded and to the extent such change can be accurately measured, a fold change less than one may be reasonably relied upon in carrying out the methods disclosed herein.
  • the fold change may be greater than about five or about 10 or about 20 or about 30 or about 40.
  • gene expression profile is intended to encompass the general usage of the term as used in the art, and generally means the collective data representing gene expression with respect to a selected group of two or more genes, wherein the gene expression may be upregulated, downregulated, or unchanged as compared to a reference standard
  • a gene expression profile is obtained via measurement of the expression level of many individual genes.
  • the expression profiles can be prepared using different methods. Suitable methods for preparing a gene expression profile include, but are not limited to reverse transcription loop-mediated amplification (RT-LAMP), for instance one-step RT-LAMP, quantitative RT-PCR, Northern Blot, in situ hybridization, slot-blotting, nuclease protection assay, nucleic acid arrays, and immunoassays.
  • the gene expression profile may also be determined indirectly via measurement of one or more gene products (whether a full or partial gene product) for a given gene sequence, where that gene product is known or determined to correlate with gene expression.
  • gene product is intended to have the meaning as generally understood in the art and is intended to generally encompass the product(s) of RNA translation resulting in a protein and/or a protein fragment.
  • the gene products of the genes identified herein may also be used for the purposes of diagnosis or treatment in accordance with the methods described herein.
  • a '"reference gene expression profile is intended to indicate the gene expression profile, as defined above, for a pre selected group which is useful for comparison to the gene expression profile of a subject of interest.
  • the reference gene expression profile may be the gene expression profile of a single individual known to not have an metabolic syndrome disorder phenotype or a propensity thereto (i.e.
  • a "normal” subject or the gene expression profile represented by a collection of RNA samples from '"normal” individuals that has been processed as a single sample.
  • the “reference gene expression profile' ' may vary and such variance will be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
  • reference standard may refer to the phrase “reference gene expression profile” or may more broadly encompass any suitable reference standard which may be used as a basis of comparison with respect to the measured variable.
  • a reference standard may be an internal control, the gene expression or a gene product of a "healthy” or '"normal” subject, a housekeeping gene, or any unregulated gene or gene product.
  • the phrase is intended to be generally non-limiting in that the choice of a reference standard is well within the level of skill in the art and is understood to vary based on the assay conditions and reagents available to one using the methods disclosed herein.
  • Gene expression profiling refers to any method that can analyze the expression of selected genes in selected samples.
  • gene expression system refers to any system, device or means to detect gene expression and includes diagnostic agents, candidate libraries, oligonucleotide sets or probe sets.
  • diagnostic oligonucleotide or “diagnostic oligonucleotide set” generally refers to an oligonucleotide or to a set of two or more oligonucleotides that, when evaluated for differential expression their corresponding diagnostic genes, collectively yields predictive data.
  • Such predictive data typically relates to diagnosis, prognosis, selection of therapeutic agents, monitoring of therapeutic outcomes, and the like.
  • the components of a diagnostic oligonucleotide or a diagnostic oligonucleotide set are distinguished from oligonucleotide sequences that are evaluated by analysis of the DNA to directly determine the genotype of an individual as it correlates with a specified trait or phenotype, such as a disease, in that it is the pattern of expression of the components of the diagnostic oligonucleotide set, rather than mutation or polymorphism of the DNA sequence that provides predictive value.
  • a particular component (or member) of a diagnostic oligonucleotide set can, in some cases, also present one or more mutations, or polymorphisms that are amenable to direct genotyping by any of a variety of well known analysis methods, e.g., Southern blotting, RFLP, AFLP, SSCP, SNP, and the like.
  • gene amplification refers to a process by which multiple copies of a gene or gene fragment are formed in a particular cell or cell line.
  • the duplicated region (a stretch of amplified DNA) is often referred to as "amplicon.”
  • amplicon a stretch of amplified DNA
  • the amount of the messenger RNA (mRNA) produced i.e., the level of gene expression, also increases in the proportion of the number of copies made of the particular gene expressed.
  • a “gene expression system” refers to any system, device or means to detect gene expression and includes diagnostic agents, candidate libraries oligonucleotide, diagnostic gene sets, oligonucleotide sets, array sets, or probe sets.
  • a “gene probe” refers to the gene sequence arrayed on a substrate.
  • nucleotide probe refers to the oligonucleotide, DNA fragment, polynucleotide sequence arrayed on a substrate.
  • splicing and "RNA splicing” are used interchangeably and refer to RNA processing that removes introns and joins exons to produce mature mRNA with continuous coding sequence that moves into the cytoplasm of a eukaryotic cell.
  • Hybridization generally depends on the ability of denatured DNA to re- anneal when complementary strands are present in an environment below their melting temperature. The higher the degree of desired homology between the probe and hybridizable sequence the higher is the relative temperature which can be used. As a result, it follows that higher relative temperatures would tend to make the reaction conditions more stringent, while lower temperatures less so.
  • a "gene target” refers to the sequence derived from a biological sample that is labeled and suitable for hybridization to a gene probe affixed on a substrate and a "nucleotide target” refers to the sequence derived from a biological sample that is labeled and suitable for hybridization to a nucleotide probe affixed on a substrate.
  • treatment refers to both therapeutic treatment and prophylactic or preventative measures, wherein the object is to prevent or slow down (lessen) the targeted pathologic condition or disorder. Those in need of treatment include those already with the disorder as well as those prone to have the disorder or those in whom the disorder is to be prevented.
  • Adiponectin is a protein hormone that modulates a number of metabolic processes, including glucose regulation and fatty acid catabolism 42 .
  • Adiponectin is exclusively secreted from adipose tissue into the bloodstream and is very abundant in plasma relative to many hormones. Levels of the hormone are inversely correlated with body fat percentage in adults, 43 while the association in infants and young children is less clear.
  • Adiponectin is secreted into the bloodsteam where it accounts for approximately 0.01% of all plasma protein at around 5-10 pg/mL. Plasma concentrations reveal a sexual dimorphism, with females having higher levels than males. Levels of adiponectin are reduced in diabetics compared to non-diabetics. Weight reduction significantly increases circulating levels 45 . Adiponectin automatically self-associates into larger structures. Initially, three adiponectin molecules form together a homotrimer.
  • trimers continue to self-associate and form hexamers or dodecamers. Like the plasma concentration, the relative levels of the higher-order structures are sexually dimorphic, where females have increased proportions of the high-molecular weight forms. Adiponectin exerts some of its weight reduction effects via the brain. This is similar to the action of leptin, 46 but the two hormones perform complementary actions, and can have additive effects.
  • Monocytes/macrophages in obesity and obesity- associated metabolic disorders are monocytes since they are readily accessible (blood) and their activation constitutes a reservoir of inflammatory cells that infiltrate in tissues (adipose, aortic and cardiac tissues) where they actively induce oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death and thereby induce insulin resistance, atherosclerosis, and heart failure.
  • FIG. 2 An overview of miRNAs deregulated in monocytes of obese subjects and predicted to be involved in regulating key molecules in the IRAK3-related pathway associated with increased inflammation and oxidative stress and impaired insulin signaling and sensitivity.
  • miR-30a, -101, -103, -126, - 130b, -146b-5p, -151-5p, -181a, -181b, -181d, and -335 are all decreased in circulating monocytes of obese subjects.
  • Flow of the pathways at the protein interaction level is indicated by black arrows.
  • Blunted arrows indicate inhibition and dashed arrows indicate translocation of transcription factors N FKB and FOX03A to the nucleus.
  • Phosphorylation is indicated by a circled P.
  • miR microRNA
  • ROS reactive oxygen species.
  • Figure 3 Expression profiles of 31 candidate miRNAs in circulating monocytes of obese and lean subjects. Left 2 bars of each panel show miRNA levels determined by miRNA microarray in 6 lean controls and 10 obese subjects. Right 2 bars show levels of the same miRNA now validated by qRT-PCR in an extended population (14 lean controls and 21 obese subjects). Data shown are means ⁇ SEM. * P ⁇ 0.05, ** P ⁇ 0.01 and *** P ⁇ 0.001 obese compared with lean controls.
  • FIG. 4 miRNAs differentially expressed in monocytes of obese persons after short-term weight loss. miRNA levels as determined by qRT-PCR in 14 lean controls and 21 obese subjects before and after weight loss. Data shown are means ⁇ SEM. ** P ⁇ 0.01 obese compared with lean controls; $ ⁇ 0.05 and $$ P ⁇ 0.01 obese after weight loss compared with before.
  • gAcrp30 globular adiponectin.
  • FIG. 8 miRNA decision tree. Microarray analysis identified a total of 133 miRNAs that were differentially expressed in circulating monocytes of obese patients compared with lean controls. To gain insight into this miRNA expression profile, a bioinformatic analysis was performed. The in silico analysis identified 31 miRNAs with potential targets in the IRAK3- related gene cluster. The expressions of 18 miRNAs were validated by qRT-PCR in an extended population. The expression profiles of the 18 miRNAs-of-interest were determined after short-term weight loss and in inflammation, oxidative stress and insulin resistance associated cell experiments. We selected 11 miRNAs based on these expression profiles (depicted in bold).
  • Two of the 11 miRNAs were associated with the occurrence of the metabolic syndrome, one miRNA was associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular risk equivalents (being a Framingham cardiovascular risk score above 10% per 10 years or type 2 daibetes) and 3 miRNAs were associated with angiographically documented coronary artery disease.
  • FIG. 9 Effect of miRNA inhibitors on inflammation, oxidative stress and insulin resistance in vitro.
  • FIG. 10 Effect of miRNA mimics on inflammation, oxidative stress and insulin resistance in vitro.
  • A IRAK3,
  • B TNFa and
  • C IRS1 expression was analyzed using qRT-PCR and
  • miR-146b-5p is an essential mediator of the antiinflammatory, antioxidative stress and insulin-sensitizing actions of globular adiponectin.
  • Gene expression was analyzed by measuring relative RNA levels using qRT-PCR and ROS production was determined by flow cytometry. Data shown are means ⁇ SEM . ** P ⁇ 0.01 and *** P ⁇ 0.001 compared with THP-1 cells exposed to 10 g/ml gAcrp30.
  • the risk for developing heart disease is directly related to the concomitant burden of obesity-related cardiovascular risk factors clustered in the metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) 8 : dyslipidemia (i.e. high triglycerides and low HDL-cholesterol), hypertension, and type 2 diabetes.
  • MetSyn metabolic syndrome 8
  • dyslipidemia i.e. high triglycerides and low HDL-cholesterol
  • hypertension i.e. high triglycerides and low HDL-cholesterol
  • type 2 diabetes type 2 diabetes
  • MeSyn Persons with the metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) are at increased risk of developing coronary heart diseases (CHD) as well as increased mortality from CHD and any other cause 47,48 .
  • CHD coronary heart diseases
  • MetSyn is highly prevalent in the United States. Its prevalence has increased from 6.7% among participants aged 20 to 29 years, to 43.5% and 42.0% for participants aged 60 to 69 years and aged at least 70 years, respectively 3 .
  • a possible pathogenic mechanism which links obesity with type-2 diabetes and with cardiovascular risk is monocyte activation. Indeed, obesity is associated with increased infiltration in the adipose tissue of activated monocytes/macrophages that also produce inflammatory chemokines 23 .
  • MetSyn is associated with elevated levels of circulating oxidized LDL (oxLDL), a marker of oxidative stress.
  • oxLDL circulating oxidized LDL
  • High triglycerides, low HDL-cholesterol, and high glucose and insulin predicted elevated levels of oxLDL independent of LDL-cholesterol levels.
  • the association between MetSyn and elevated levels of oxLDL has been confirmed in European and Japanese cohorts 53 ⁇ 55 . Persons with high oxLDL levels showed a greater disposition to myocardial infarction, adjusting for all established cardiovascular risk factors 18 ⁇ 21 ' 56 .
  • oxLDL can induce the activation of monocytes as evidenced by increased capacity of monocytes to infiltrate vascular tissues in response to oxLDL-induced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 by endothelial cells, by the oxLDL-induced activation of toll ⁇ like repceptor (TLR)-2 and 4-mediated pro-inflammatory response resulting in production of inflammatory cytokines, by the oxLDL- induced NF- ⁇ activation and by the oxLDL-induced mitochondrial dysfunction resulting in a further enehancement of ROS production 59 .
  • TLR toll ⁇ like repceptor
  • TLR2 IL1 receptor-associated kinase 3
  • TNF Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • TNF Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • TNF Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • MYD88 TNF-alpha-induced protein 3 and 6
  • TNFAIP3 TNF-alpha-induced protein 3 and 6
  • IFS2 Insulin Receptor Substrate 2
  • MAK13 mitogen-activated protein kinase 13
  • FOX03A Forkhead Box 03A
  • SOD2 superoxide dismutase 2
  • Toll-like receptors nuclear factor NF-kappa-B, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and IL1 receptor-associated kinases
  • the Toll like /Interleukin 1 receptor family consists of a large number of transmembrane proteins which are involved in host defense and have conserved intracellular domains. This superfamily is divided into 2 subgroups based on the components of the extracellular domains: the Toll like receptors (TLRs) with leucine-rich repeats, and the Interleukin-1 receptors (ILIRs) with immunoglobulin-like motifs.
  • TLRs Toll like receptors
  • ILIRs Interleukin-1 receptors
  • TLR2 is a molecular link between microbial products, apoptosis, and host defense mechanisms.
  • Aderem and Ulevitch (2000) reviewed the role of TLRs in innate immunity 62 .
  • lipopolysaccharide activates cells through TLR4, gram-positive cell-wall components, including peptidoglycan and lipoteichoic acid, as well as mycobacterial cell-wall components such as lipoarabinomannan and mycolylarabinogalactan, and yeast cell-wall zymosan, activate cells via TLR2.
  • gram-positive cell-wall components including peptidoglycan and lipoteichoic acid, as well as mycobacterial cell-wall components such as lipoarabinomannan and mycolylarabinogalactan, and yeast cell-wall zymosan
  • TLR2 gram-positive cell-wall components
  • mycobacterial cell-wall components such as lipoarabinomannan and mycolylarabinogalactan
  • yeast cell-wall zymosan activate cells via TLR2.
  • TLR2 and MYD88 are critical in the defense against gram-positive bacteria. Shishido et al. (2003) found that Tlr2-deficient mice survived longer than wildtype mice after induced myocardial infarction 64 . There was no difference in inflammation or infarct size between knockout mice and wildtype mice. They concluded that TLR2 plays an important role in ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction. In atherosclerosis-susceptible Ldlr (606945)-null mice, Mullick et al.
  • Tlr2 -/- bone marrow (BM) cells demonstrated that complete deficiency of Tlr2 led to a reduction in atherosclerosis whereas intraperitoneal injection of a synthetic TLR2/TLR1 agonist dramatically increased atherosclerosis 65 .
  • transplantation of Tlr2 -/- bone marrow (BM) cells had no effect on atherosclerosis, suggesting the presence of an endogenous TLR2 agonist activating TLR2 in cells that were not of BM cell origin.
  • TLR2 Homo sapiens toll-like receptor
  • TLR2 Homo sapiens toll-like receptor 2
  • NFKB1 Nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B- cells 1
  • NFKB Nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B- cells 1
  • mice showed increased lung DNA degradation and decreased survival in hyperoxia compared with wildtype mice. They concluded that there are maturational differences in lung NFKB activation and that enhanced NFKB may serve to protect the neonatal lung from acute hyperoxic injury via inhibition of apoptosis.
  • LDL receptor LDL receptor
  • Ikbkb macrophage-restricted deletion of Ikbkb
  • Kanters et al. (2003) found an increase in atherosclerosis, as characterized by increased lesion size, more lesions, and necrosis 69 .
  • NFKB1 Homo sapiens nuclear factor NF-kappa-B pl05 subunit
  • isoform l has been deposited in the NCBI database under the accession number NM_003998 4093 bp mRNA linear (PRI 23-JAN- 2011) with the mRNA nucleotide sequence as in sequence ID 3.
  • the protein of NFKB1, isoform 1 has been deposited in the NCBI database under the accession number NP_003989 969 aa linear (PRI 23-JAN- 2011) with the amino acid sequence depicted in sequence ID 4.
  • NFKB1 Homo sapiens nuclear factor NF-kappa-B pl05 subunit
  • isoform 2 The mRNA of Homo sapiens nuclear factor NF-kappa-B pl05 subunit (NFKB1), isoform 2 has been deposited in the NCBI database under the accession number NM_001165412 4090 bp mRNA linear (PRI 22- JAN-2011) with the mRNA nucleotide sequence as in sequence ID 5.
  • the protein of NFKB1, isoform 2 has been deposited in the NCBI database under the accession number NP_001158884 968 aa linear (PRI 22-JAN-2011) as depicted in sequence ID 6.
  • the NFKB complex a master regulator of proinflammatory responses, is inhibited by NFKBIA proteins, which inactivate NFKB by trapping it in the cytoplasm.
  • Phosphorylation of serine residues on the NFKBIA proteins by kinases (IKK1 or IKK2) marks them for destruction via the ubiquitination pathway, thereby allowing activation of the NFKB complex.
  • IKK1 or IKK2 kinases
  • NEMO deficiency sensitized epithelial cells to TNF-induced apoptosis whereas TNF receptor-1 inactivation inhibited intestinal inflammation, demonstrating that TNFR1 signaling is crucial for disease induction.
  • TNF receptor-1 inactivation inhibited intestinal inflammation, demonstrating that TNFR1 signaling is crucial for disease induction.
  • a primary NFKB signaling defect in intestinal epithelial cells disrupts immune homeostasis in the gastrointestinal tract, causing an inflammatory bowel disease-like phenotype.
  • Their results further identified NFKB signaling in the gut epithelium as a critical regulator of epithelial integrity and intestinal immune homeostasis and have important implications for understanding the mechanisms controlling the pathogenesis of human inflammatory bowel disease.
  • Cytokine signaling is thought to require assembly of multicomponent signaling complexes at cytoplasmic segments of membrane-embedded receptors, in which receptor-proximal protein kinases are activated.
  • Matsuzawa et al. (2008) reported that, upon ligation, CD40 formed a complex containing adaptor molecules TRAF2 and TRAF3, ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UBC13, cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein-1 and -2, IKK-gamma, and MEKK1.
  • TRAF2, UBC13, and IKK-gamma were required for complex assembly and activation of MEKK1 and MAP kinase cascades 71 .
  • kinases were not activated unless the complex was translocated from the membrane to the cytosol upon CIAPl/CIAP2-induced degradation of TRAF3. They proposed that this 2-stage signaling mechanism may apply to other innate immune receptors and may account for spatial and temporal separation of MAPK and IKK signaling
  • NFKBIA Homo sapiens NF-kappa-B inhibitor alpha
  • NCBI database accession number NG_007571.1 1579 bp mRNA linear (PRI 25-DEC-201) with the mRNA nucleotide sequence as in sequence ID 7.
  • the protein of NFKBIA has been deposited in the NCBI database under the accession number NP_065390 317 aa linear (PRI 25-DEC-2010) with the amino acid sequence depicted in sequence ID 8.
  • TNF-a Tumor necrosis factor alpha
  • Tumor necrosis factor is a multifunctional proinflammatory cytokine secreted predominantly by monocytes/macrophages that has effects on lipid metabolism, coagulation, insulin resistance, and endothelial function.
  • TNF was originally identified in mouse serum after injection with Mycobacterium bovis strain bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and endotoxin. Serum from such animals was cytotoxic or cytostatic to a number of mouse and human transformed cell lines and produced hemorrhagic necrosis and in some instances complete regression of certain transplanted tumors in mice 72,73 . Kamata et al.
  • TNF-a-induced reactive oxygen species ROS
  • SOD2 mitochondrial superoxide dismutase
  • JNK oxidation and inhibition of phosphatases by converting their catalytic cysteine to sulfenic acid 74 .
  • Treatment of cells or experimental animals with an antioxidant prevented H202 accumulation, JNK phosphatase oxidation, sustained JNK activity, and both forms of cell death.
  • Antioxidant treatment also prevented TNF-a-mediated fulminant liver failure without affecting liver regeneration.
  • HOMA homeostasis assessment
  • TN F-a tumor necrosis factor alpha
  • TN F-a tumor necrosis factor alpha
  • Sig nal transduction pathways in these receptor families u ltimately lead to activation of members of the Rel and APlfamily of transcription factors.
  • An important med iator in this pathway is IL1 Receptor- Associated Kinase 1 (IRAKI) .
  • IRAKI IL1 Receptor- Associated Kinase 1
  • Irak-deficient mice were viable and fertile. They observed diminished NFKB activation in fibroblasts from Irak knockout mice when stimulated with ILL NFKB activation in response to TNF was unimpaired. Treatment of splenocytes with IL12 alone or in combination with IL18, but not with IL18 alone, resulted in the production of normal amounts of IFNG.
  • Irak deletion did not impair delayed-type hypersensitivity responses or cell- mediated immunity to infection with the intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Jacob et al. 79 found that absence of Iraki in mice significantly attenuated the serologic and cellular immunologic phenotypes independently attributed to the Slel and Sle3 susceptibility loci for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in mice.
  • the Homo sapiens interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAKI) mRNA has been deposited in the NCBI database as under the accession number ACCESSION NM_001025242.1 (LOCUS: NM_001025242 3499bp mRNA linear PRI 04-AUG-2010) with the nucleotide sequence as in sequence ID 11.
  • the Homo sapiens interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAKI) protein has been deposited in the NCBI database as under the accession number ACCESSION AAH54000 VERSION AAH54000.1 (LOCUS AAH54000 693 aa linear PRI 07-OCT-2003) with the amino acid sequence depicted in sequence ID 12.
  • IRAK3 IL1 Receptor-Associated Kinase 3
  • IRAK3 (or IRAKM or Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinase 3 or Interleukin-1 Receptor- Associated Kinase M) gene consists of 12 exons spanning a region of approximately 60 kb in chromosome 12ql4.3 80 .
  • IRAK-3 is a member of the interleukine-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK) family.
  • IRAK interleukine-1 receptor-associated kinase
  • TLR Toll-like receptor
  • II-1R II-1R signaling pathway.
  • IRAK3 interacts with the myeloid differentiation (MYD) marker MYD88 and TRAF6 signaling proteins in a manner similar to the other IRAKs.
  • MYD myeloid differentiation
  • IRAK3 in contrast to other IRAKs, is induced upon TLR stimulation but negatively regulates TLR signaling.
  • IRAK3 -/- cells exhibited increased cytokine production upon TLR/IL1 stimulation and bacterial challenge, and Irakm -/- mice showed increased inflammatory responses to bacterial infection. Endotoxin tolerance, a protection mechanism against endotoxin shock, was significantly reduced in IRAKM -/- cells.
  • IRAK3 regulates TLR signaling and innate immune homeostasis.
  • Data with IRAK-M knockout mice have revealed that IRAK-M serves as a negative regulator of IL-IR/TLR signaling.
  • IRAK-M expression is mainly restricted to cells of a myeloid origin.
  • the Homo sapiens interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 3 (IRAK3) mRNA has been deposited in the NCBI database as under the accession number ACCESSION NM_007199, VERSION NM_007199.2 (LOCUS : NM_007199 8351 bp mRNA linear PRI 03-AUG-2010) with the nucleotide sequence as in sequence ID 13.
  • the Homo sapiens interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 3 (IRAK3) protein has been deposited in the NCBI database as under the accession number NP_009130 ACCESSION VERSION NP_009130.2 GI: 216547519 (LOCUS NP_009130 596 aa linear PRI 03-AUG-2010) with the amino acid sequence as in sequence ID 14.
  • IRAK4 IL1 Receptor-Associated Kinase 4
  • IRAK4 is another kinase that activates NF-kappaB in both the Toll-like receptor (TLR) and T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling pathways 82 ⁇ 85 .
  • TLR Toll-like receptor
  • TCR T-cell receptor
  • the protein is essential for most innate immune responses. Mutations in this gene result in IRAK4 deficiency and recurrent invasive pneumococcal disease. Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.
  • the transcript variant 1 represents the longest transcript.
  • Variants 1 and 2 both encode the same isoform A.
  • Variants 3, 4, and 5 all encode the same isoform B.
  • This variant (4) lacks two alternate exons and uses a downstream start codon, compared to variant 1.
  • the resulting isoform B also known as the short form, has a shorter N-terminus, compared to isoform A.
  • the Homo sapiens interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK4) mRNA has been deposited in the NCBI database as under the accession number ACCESSION M_001114182, VERSION NM_001114182.2 (LOCUS: NM_001114182 4351 bp mRNA linear PRI 05-AUG-2010) with the nucleotide sequence as in sequence ID 15.
  • the Homo sapiens interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK4) protein has two isoforms A and B.
  • Isoform A been deposited in the NCBI database as under the accession number NP_057207 ACCESSION VERSION NP_057207.2 GI: 166795293 (LOCUS NP_057207 460 aa linear PRI 01-AUG-2010) with the amino acid sequence as in sequence ID 16.
  • Isoform B been deposited in the NCBI database as under the accession number NP_001138729 ACCESSION VERSION NP_001138729.1 (336 aa linear PRI 05-AUG-2010) with the amino acid sequence as in sequence ID 17.
  • TNF-alpha-induced protein 6 Lee et al. 86 described a gene, which they designated TSG6 (current name TNFAIP6), that is transcribed in normal fibroblasts and activated by binding of TNF-alpha and IL1 at AP-1 and NF-IL6 sites in its promoter.
  • the cDNA was isolated from a library made from TNF- treated human fibroblasts.
  • TNFAIP6 is a member of the hyaluronan- binding protein family, which includes cartilage link protein, proteoglycan core protein, and the adhesion receptor CD44.
  • the predicted polypeptide is 277 amino acids long and includes a typical cleavage signal peptide.
  • TNFAIP6 is highly homologous to CD44, particularly in the hyaluronic acid-binding domain.
  • Western blots with antibodies made to a TNFAIP6 fusion protein detected a 39-kD glycoprotein in TNF-treated cells, and hyaluronate binding was shown by co-precipitation.
  • TNFAIP6 expression is rapidly activated by TNF- alpha, IL1, and lipopolysaccharide in normal fibroblasts, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, synovial cells, and chondrocytes.
  • the mRNA of Homo sapiens tumour necrosis factor, alpha-induced protein 6 has been deposited in the NCBI database under the accession number NM 007115 VERSION NM_007115.3 (1439 bp bp PRI 27-DEC-2010) with the mRNA nucleotide sequence as in sequence ID 18.
  • the protein of Homo sapiens tumour necrosis factor, alpha-induced protein 6 has been deposited in the NCBI database under the accession number CAD13434 VERSION CAD13434.1 (277 bp PRI 07-OCT-2008) as depicted in Sequence ID 19. Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 and 2 (IRS1 and IRS2)
  • the Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 acts as an interface between signalling proteins with Src homology-2 domains (SH2 proteins) and the receptors for insulin, IGF2, growth hormone, several interleukins, and other cytokines. It regulates gene expression and stimulates mitogenesis and appears to mediate insulin/IGFl-stimulated glucose transport.
  • SH2 proteins Src homology-2 domains
  • Irs2-deficient mice showed increased adiposity with increased serum leptin level, suggesting leptin resistance before the mice developed diabetes.
  • oligonucleotide microarray and Northern blot analyses to analyze gene expression they detected increased expression of SREBPl, a downstream target of insulin, in Irs2-deficient mouse liver.
  • leptin resistance in Irs2- deficient mice is causally related to SREBP1 gene induction.
  • mice less Irs2 signalling throughout the body or only in brain extended life span up to 18%.
  • brain-specific Irs2 knockout mice were overweight, hyperinsulinemic, and glucose intolerant; however, compared with control mice, they were more active and displayed greater glucose oxidation, and during meals they displayed stable SOD2 concentrations in the hypothalamus.
  • the mRNA of Homo sapiens insulin receptor substrate 1 has been deposited in the NCBI database under the accession number ACCESSION NG_015830 VERSION NG_015830.1 (74474 bp mRNA linear PRI 04-NOV-2010) with the mRNA nucleotide sequence as in sequence ID 20.
  • the protein of IRSl has been deposited in the NCBI database under the accession number AAH53895 VERSION AAH53895.1 (1242bp PRI 15-JUL-2006) with the amino acid sequence depicted in sequence ID 21.
  • the mRNA of Homo sapiens insulin receptor substrate 1 has been deposited in the NCBI database under the accession number NG_008154 VERSION NM_ NG_008154.1 (39731 bpbp mRNA PRI 10-NOV-2010) with the mRNA nucleotide sequence as in sequence ID 22.
  • the protein of IRS2 has been deposited in the NCBI database under the accession number Q9Y4H2 VERSION Q9Y4H2.2 (1338 bp PRI11-JAN-2011) as depicted in sequence ID 23.
  • FKHRL1 most likely triggers apoptosis by inducing the expression of genes that are critical for cell death, such the TNF ligand superfamily 6 (TNFSF6).
  • TNFSF6 TNF ligand superfamily 6
  • Nemoto and Finkel 92 observed that exposure to intracellular ROS induced an increase in phosphorylated Fkhrll and a shift from a nuclear to a cytosolic localization. They found that serum starvation, a stimulus that increases oxidative stress, resulted in lower levels of hydrogen peroxide in Shcl -/- cells or in cells expressing a ser36-to-ala (S36A) Shcl mutant compared with wild type cells.
  • S36A ser36-to-ala
  • Serum starvation also increased Fkhrll-dependent transcriptional activity, which was further augmented in the Shcl-deficient cells. Increased ROS exposure failed to induce increased Fkhrll phosphorylation in the mutant cells.
  • Essers et al. 93 reported an evolutionarily conserved interaction of beta- catenin with FOXO transcription factors, which are regulated by insulin and oxidative stress signalling. In mammalian cells, beta-catenin binds directly to FOXO and enhances FOXO transcriptional activity. In C. elegans, loss of the beta-catenin BAR1 reduces the activity of the FOXO ortholog DAF16 in dauer formation and life span.
  • beta-catenin Association of beta-catenin with FOXO was enhanced in cells exposed to oxidative stress. Furthermore, BAR1 was required for the oxidative stress- induced expression of the DAF16 target gene sod3 and for resistance to oxidative damage. They concluded that their results demonstrated a role for beta-catenin in regulating FOXO function that is particularly important under conditions of oxidative stress.
  • the mRNA of Homo sapiens forkhead box 03 (FOXO3), transcript variant 1 has been deposited in the NCBI database under the accession number NM_001455 VERSION NM_001455.3 (7341 bp PRI 14-JAN-2011) with the mRNA nucleotide sequence as in sequence ID 24.
  • the mRNA of Homo sapiens forkhead box 03 (FOXO3), transcript variant 2 has been deposited in the NCBI database as under the accession number NM_201559 VERSION NM_201559.2 (7314 bp PRI 16-JAN-2011) with the mRNA nucleotide sequence as in sequence ID 25.
  • the protein of Homo sapiens forkhead box 03 (FOXO3), transcript 1, as presented in CDS344..2365 is depicted in sequence ID 26.
  • the protein of Homo sapiens forkhead box 03 (FOXO3), transcript 2, as presented in CDS317..2338 is depicted in sequence 27.
  • Adiponectin Adiponectin (ADPN or ACRP30) is a hormone secreted by adipocytes that regulates energy homeostasis and glucose and lipid metabolism. Adipocytes also produce and secrete proteins such as leptin (LEP), adipsin (factor D), various other complement components (e.g., properdin) and C3a), and TNF), suggesting a possible link to the immune system. Adiponectin, an adipose tissue-specific plasma protein, has antiinflammatory effects on the cellular components of the vascular wall 94,95 .
  • Maeda et al. 96 isolated a cDNA encoding APM1, an adipose tissue-specific collagen-like factor. Sequence analysis predicted that the 244-amino acid secretory protein has a signal peptide but no transmembrane hydrophobic stretch, and a short N-terminal noncollagenous sequence followed by a short collagen-like motif of G- X-Y repeats. APM1 shares significant similarity to collagen X), collagen VIII, and complement protein Clq within the C terminus.
  • Northern blot analysis detected a 4.5-kb APM1 transcript in adipose tissue but not in muscle, intestine, placenta, uterus, ovary, kidney, liver, lung, brain, or heart.
  • Saito et al. 97 cloned an adipose tissue-specific gene they termed GBP28. They stated that the GBP28 protein is encoded by the APM1 mRNA identified by 96 .
  • genomic sequence analysis Saito et al. 97 and Schaffler et al. 98 determined that the GBP28 gene spans 16 kb and contains 3 exons, and that the promoter lacks a TATA box.
  • Das et al. 99 determined that the mouse gene, which they termed Acrp30 (adipocyte complement-related protein, 30-kD), contains 3 exons and spans 20 kb.
  • Acrp30 adipocyte complement-related protein, 30-kD
  • adiponectin suppresses phagocytic activity as well as lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNF, but not interleukin-lB (IL1B) or interleukin-6 (IL6), production and expression.
  • LPS lipopolysaccharide
  • IL1B interleukin-lB
  • IL6 interleukin-6
  • Blockade of CIQRP, a Clq receptor on macrophages abrogated the suppression of phagocytic function but not the inhibition of TNF production or myelomonocytic cell proliferation mediated by adiponectin.
  • Yokota et al. ⁇ Yokota, 2000 623 /id ⁇ suggested that adiponectin is an important regulator of hematopoiesis and inflammatory responses that acts through CIQRP and other receptors.
  • Yamauchi et al. 105 demonstrated that phosphorylation and activation of the 5-prime-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) are stimulated with globular and full-length adiponectin in skeletal muscle and only with full-length adiponectin in the liver.
  • AMPK 5-prime-AMP-activated protein kinase
  • adiponectin stimulates phosphorylation of acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC1), fatty acid oxidation, glucose uptake and lactate production in myocytes, phosphorylation of ACC and reduction of molecules involved in gluconeogenesis in the liver, and reduction of glucose levels in vivo.
  • ACC1 acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase
  • Blocking AMPK activation by a dominant-negative mutant inhibits each of these effects, indicating that stimulation of glucose utilization and fatty acid oxidation by adiponectin occurs through activation of AMPK.
  • Yamauchi et al. 105 concluded that their data provided a novel paradigm, that an adipocyte-derived antidiabetic hormone, adiponectin, activates AMPK, thereby directly regulating glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity in vitro and in vivo.
  • Yokota et al. 106 found that brown fat in normal human bone marrow contains adiponectin and used marrow-derived preadipocyte lines and long- term cultures to explore potential roles of adiponectin in hematopoiesis.
  • adiponectin blocked fat cell formation in long-term bone marrow cultures and inhibited the differentiation of cloned stromal preadipocytes. Adiponectin also caused elevated expression of COX2 by these stromal cells and induced release of prostaglandin E2. A COX2 inhibitor prevented the inhibitory action of adiponectin on preadipocyte differentiation, suggesting involvement of stromal cell-derived prostanoids. Furthermore, adiponectin failed to block fat cell generation when bone marrow cells were derived from COX2 heterozygous mice. Yokota et al. 106 concluded that preadipocytes represent direct targets for adiponectin action, establishing a paracrine negative feedback loop for fat regulation. They also linked adiponectin to the COX2-dependent prostaglandins that are critical in this process.
  • Waki et al. 107 ' 108 analyzed serum samples from healthy young Japanese volunteers and found that HMW multimers, but not MMW or LMW multimers, were significantly less abundant in males than females.
  • Sivan et al. 109 sought to determine if adiponectin is present in human fetal blood, to define its association with fetal birth weight, and to evaluate whether dynamic changes in adiponectin levels occur during the early neonatal period.
  • Cord blood adiponectin levels were extremely high compared with serum levels in children and adults and were positively correlated with fetal birth weights. No significant differences in adiponectin levels were found between female and male neonates.
  • Cord adiponectin levels were significantly higher compared with maternal levels at birth, and no correlation was found between cord and maternal adiponectin levels.
  • Sivan et al. 109 concluded that adiponectin in cord blood is derived from fetal and not from placental or maternal tissues.
  • Kumada et al. 110 incubated human monocyte- derived macrophages with physiologic concentrations of recombinant human adiponectin to determine the effect of adiponectin on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs).
  • MMPs matrix metalloproteinases
  • TIMPs tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases
  • Adiponectin also augmented TIMP1 secretion into the media.
  • Adiponectin significantly increased IL10 mRNA expression and protein secretion.
  • Cotreatment of cells with adiponectin and anti-ILlO monoclonal antibodies abolished adiponectin-induced TIMP1 mRNA expression.
  • Kumada et al. 110 concluded that adiponectin acts as an antiinflammatory signal by selectively increasing TIMP1 expression through IL10 induction.
  • Biochemical, genetic, and animal studies established a critical role for Acrp30/adiponectin in controlling whole- body metabolism, particularly by enhancing insulin sensitivity in muscle and liver, and by increasing fatty acid oxidation in muscle. Wong et al.
  • adiponectin paralogs described a widely expressed and highly conserved family of adiponectin paralogs. They focused particularly on the mouse paralog most similar to adiponectin, CTRP2. At nanomolar concentrations, bacterially produced CTRP2 rapidly induced phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase, acetyl-coA carboxylase, and mitogen-activated protein kinase in cultured myotubes, which resulted in increased glycogen accumulation and fatty acid oxidation. The authors suggested that the discovery of the family of adiponectin paralogs has implications for understanding the control of energy homeostasis and could provide new targets for pharmacologic intervention in metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.
  • T-cadherin Only eukaryotically expressed adiponectin bound to T-cadherin, implying that posttranslational modifications of adiponectin are critical for binding.
  • T-cadherin is expressed in endothelial and smooth muscle cells, where it is positioned to interact with adiponectin. Because T- cadherin is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored extracellular protein, it may act as a coreceptor for a signaling receptor through which adiponectin transmits metabolic signals. Iwabu et al.
  • adiponectin induces extracellular calcium influx by adiponectin receptor-1 (ADIPOR1), which was necessary for subsequent activation of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase-beta (CaMKK-beta; CAMKK2), AMPK, and SIRT1, increased expression and decreased acetylation of PGCl-alpha (604517), and increased mitochondria in myocytes.
  • IDPOR1 adiponectin receptor-1
  • CaMKK-beta calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase-beta
  • AMPK calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase-beta
  • SIRT1 calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase-beta
  • muscle-specific disruption of AdipoRl suppressed the adiponectin-mediated increase in intracellular calcium concentration, and decreased the activation of CaMkk, AMPK,
  • AdipoRl Suppression of AdipoRl also resulted in decreased PGCl-alpha expression and deacetylation, decreased mitochondrial content and enzymes, decreased oxidative type I myofibers, and decreased oxidative stress-detoxifying enzymes in skeletal muscle, which were associated with insulin resistance and decreased exercise endurance.
  • Yang et al. 114 studied the changes of plasma adiponectin levels with body weight reduction among 22 obese patients who received gastric partition surgery. A 46% increase of mean plasma adiponectin level was accompanied by a 21% reduction in mean BMI. The authors concluded that body weight reduction increased the plasma levels of a protective adipocytokine, adiponectin.
  • Serum adiponectin concentrations in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa were significantly lower than those in normal-weight controls. These results were unexpected in light of reports that circulating adiponectin levels are downregulated in obesity and that weight reduction increases plasma adiponectin levels 114 levels were high in constitutionally thin subjects and low in obese subjects, which provided a negative correlation with body mass index (BMI) and body fat mass. In contrast, serum leptin levels correlated very well with BMI and fat mass among all the patients and controls. The concentrations of adiponectin after weight recovery increased to the normal level despite a relatively small increase in BMI.
  • BMI body mass index
  • Williams et al. 118 determined the extent to which low maternal plasma adiponectin is predictive of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a condition that is biochemically and epidemiologically similar to type II diabetes, using a prospective, nested case-control study design to compare maternal plasma adiponectin concentrations in 41 cases with 70 controls. Adiponectin concentrations were statistically significantly lower in women with GDM than controls (4.4 vs 8.1 microg/ml, P less than 0.001).
  • the Homo sapiens adiponectin (ADPQ or ACRP30) has to transcript variants.
  • the longer one (variant 1) mRNA has been deposited in the NCBI database as under the accession number NM_001177800 VERSION NM_001177800.1 (4629 bp mRNA linear PRI 01-AUG-2010) with the nucleotide sequence as in sequence ID 28.
  • the second variant differs in the 5' UTR compared to variant 1. Both variants 1 and 2 encode the same protein.
  • the Homo sapiens adiponectin (ADPQ or ACRP30) protein has been deposited in the NCBI database as under the accession number ABZ10942 ACCESSION VERSION ABZ10942.1 GI: 167077467 (LOCUS ABZ10942.1 GI: 167077467 244 aa linear PRI l l-FEBR-2008) with the amino acid sequence as in sequence ID 30.
  • Plasma samples from patients are easy to collect and contain miRNAs 12 °- 123 ; which have diagnostic potential in metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease 124 ' 125 .
  • the main physiological carrier of plasma miRNAs are microvesicles (MVs) which are small vesicles shed from almost all cell types under both normal and pathological conditions 126,127 .
  • MVs bear surface receptors/ligands of the original cells and have the potential to selectively interact with specific target cells. They are involved in cell-to-cell communication including the communication between adipocytes and macrophages and between circulating monocytes and vascular endothelial cells 123 .
  • peripheral blood MVs can be divided in origin-based subpopulations which can be used to determine miRNA expression profiles in MVs derived from one specific cell type.
  • peripheral blood MVs derived from mononuclear phagocyte cell lineage can be detected with anti-CD14, anti-CD16, anti-CD206, anti-CCR2, anti-CCR3 and anti-CCR5 antibodies 122 .
  • anti-CD14, anti-CD16, anti-CD206, anti-CCR2, anti-CCR3 and anti-CCR5 antibodies 122 By labeling the antibodies with a fluorescent group or magnetic particles, these cell-specific MVs can be isolated using FACS or magnetic cell separation technology. Methods to determine the gene expression / activity
  • biomarkers described herein may be used to prepare oligonucleotide probes and antibodies that hybridize to or specifically bind the biomarkers mentioned herein, and homologues and variants thereof.
  • a “probe” or “primer” is a single-stranded DNA or RNA molecule of defined sequence that can base pair to a second DNA or RNA molecule that contains a complementary sequence (the target).
  • the stability of the resulting hybrid molecule depends upon the extent of the base pairing that occurs, and is affected by parameters such as the degree of complementarity between the probe and target molecule, and the degree of stringency of the hybridization conditions.
  • the degree of hybridization stringency is affected by parameters such as the temperature, salt concentration, and concentration of organic molecules, such as formamide, and is determined by methods that are known to those skilled in the art.
  • Probes or primers specific for the nucleic acid biomarkers described herein, or portions thereof may vary in length by any integer from at least 8 nucleotides to over 500 nucleotides, including any value in between, depending on the purpose for which, and conditions under which, the probe or primer is used .
  • a probe or primer may be 8, 10, 15, 20, or 25 nucleotides in length, or may be at least 30, 40, 50, or 60 nucleotides in length, or may be over 100, 200, 500, or 1000 nucleotides in length.
  • Probes or primers specific for the nucleic acid biomarkers described herein may have greater than 20-30% sequence identity, or at least 55-75% sequence identity, or at least 75-85% sequence identity, or at least 85-99% sequence identity, or 100% sequence identity to the nucleic acid biomarkers described herein.
  • Probes or primers may be derived from genomic DNA or cDNA, for example, by amplification, or from cloned DNA segments, and may contain either genomic DNA or cDNA sequences representing all or a portion of a single gene from a single individual.
  • a probe may have a unique sequence (e.g., 100% identity to a nucleic acid biomarker) and/or have a known sequence.
  • Probes or primers may be chemically synthesized.
  • a probe or primer may hybridize to a nucleic acid biomarker under high stringency conditions as described herein.
  • the invention involves methods to assess quantitative and qualitative aspects of the biomarker gene expression(s), e.g. miRNAs. of which the increased or decreased expression as provided by the present invention is indicative for the combination of oxidative stress and inflammation and insulin resistance related to the progression of a metabolic syndrome disorder in a subject or the increased risk to develop related cardiovascular diseases in said subject.
  • biomarker gene expression(s) e.g. miRNAs. of which the increased or decreased expression as provided by the present invention is indicative for the combination of oxidative stress and inflammation and insulin resistance related to the progression of a metabolic syndrome disorder in a subject or the increased risk to develop related cardiovascular diseases in said subject.
  • RT PCR for instance real time RT PCR
  • RT-LAMP reverse transcription loop-mediated amplification
  • NASBA real-time NASBA for detection, quantification and differentiation of the RNA and DNA targets 128 , or Northern blot
  • the analyzing techniques include the application of detectably-labeled probes or primers.
  • the probes or primers can be detectably-labeled, either radioactively or nonradioactive ⁇ , by methods that are known to those skilled in the art, and their use in the methods according to the invention, involves nucleic acid hybridization, such as nucleic acid sequencing, nucleic acid amplification by the polymerase chain reaction (e.g., RT-PCR), single stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis, restriction fragment polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, Southern hybridization, northern hybridization, in situ hybridization, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), and other methods that are known to those skilled in the art.
  • nucleic acid hybridization such as nucleic acid sequencing, nucleic acid amplification by the polymerase chain reaction (e.g., RT-PCR), single stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis, restriction fragment polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, Southern hybridization, northern hybridization, in situ hybridization, electrophoretic mobility
  • detectably labeled any means for marking and identifying the presence of a molecule, e.g., an oligonucleotide probe or primer, a gene or fragment thereof, or a cDNA molecule.
  • Methods for detectably-labeling a molecule include, without limitation, radioactive labeling (e.g., with an isotope such as 32P or 35S) and nonradioactive labeling such as, enzymatic labeling (for example, using horseradish peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase), chemiluminescent labeling, fluorescent labeling (for example, using fluorescein), bioluminescent labeling, or antibody detection of a ligand attached to the probe.
  • a molecule that is detectably labeled by an indirect means for example, a molecule that is bound with a first moiety (such as biotin) that is, in turn, bound to a second moiety that may be observed or assayed (such as fluorescein-labeled streptavidin).
  • Labels also include digoxigenin, luciferases, and aequorin.
  • the present invention provides an in vitro method to determine activation of a monocyte in a sample, said method comprising measuring the expression level of one or more microRNAs selected from the group consisting of let-7c, let-7g, miR- 18a, miR-27b, miR-30a, miR-30b, miR-30d, miR-101, miR-103, miR- 107, miR-126, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, miR-181a, miR-181b, miR- 181d, and miR-335 in said sample.
  • the present invention provides the in vitro method of the invention, wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-101, miR-103, miR-126, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, miR-181a, miR-181b, miR-181d, and miR-335; in particular wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-103, miR-151-5p, miR- 181a, miR-181b, miR-181d, and miR-335.
  • the present invention provides the in vitro method of the invention, wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-130b, miR-151- 5p, miR-181d, and miR-335.
  • the invention provides the in vitro method of the invention wherein the activation of the monocyte is indicative for the inflammatory state of said monocyte and comprises measuring the expression level of one or more microRNAs selected from the group consisting of let-7c, let-7g, miR-18a, miR-30a, miR-30b, miR-101, miR-103, miR-126, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, miR-181a, miR-181b, miR-181d, and miR-335 in said sample.
  • the invention provides the in vitro method of the invention, wherein the activation of the monocyte is indicative for the inflammatory state of said monocyte and comprises measuring the expression level of one or more microRNAs selected from the group consisting of let-7c, let-7g, miR-18a, miR-30a, miR-30b, miR-101, miR-103, miR-126, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, miR-181b, and miR-335 in said sample.
  • the invention provides the in vitro method of the invention, wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-101, miR-103, miR-126, miR130b, miR-151-5p, miR-181b, and miR-335; in particular, wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, and miR-335.
  • the invention provides the in vitro method of the invention, wherein the activation of the monocyte is indicative for the oxidative stress state of said monocyte and comprises measuring the expression level of one or more microRNAs selected from the group consisting of let-7c, let-7g, miR-27b, miR-30a, miR-30b, miR-30d, miR-101, miR-103, miR-107, miR-151-5p, miR- 181a, and miR-181b in said sample; in particular wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-101, miR-103, miR-151-5p, miR-181a, and miR-181b; more in particular wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, and miR-151-5p.
  • the invention provides the in vitro method of the invention, wherein the activation of the monocyte is indicative for insulin signalling deregulation of said monocyte and comprises measuring the expression level of one or more microRNAs selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-103, miR-126, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, miR-181a, miR181b, miR-181d, and miR-335 in said sample; in particular wherein the activation of the monocyte is indicative for insulin signalling deregulation of said monocyte and comprises measuring the expression level of one or more microRNAs selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-103, miR-126, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, miR-181a, and miR181b in said sample; more in particular wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-130b, and miR-151-5p.
  • the present invention also provides an in vitro method to predict if a subject will respond to adiponectin or adiponectin mimetic treatment, said method comprising determining the activation of monocytes according to the invention, whereby a) the absence of activated monocytes is an indication that said subject will respond to said adiponectin or adiponectin mimetic treatment, and b) the presence of activated monocytes is an indication that said subject will not respond to said adiponectin or adiponectin mimetic treatment.
  • the present invention provides diagnosis, treatment and/or monitoring methods for a subject that suffers from or is at risk of suffering from at least one disease or disorder selected from the group comprising obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, low glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, a lipid disorder, dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, low HDL levels, high LDL levels, atherosclerosis, and a cardiovascular disease.
  • a disease or disorder selected from the group comprising obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, low glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, a lipid disorder, dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, low HDL levels, high LDL levels, atherosclerosis, and a cardiovascular disease.
  • the invention provides an in vitro method of the invention wherein the activation of the monocyte is indicative for a cardiovascular disease, in particular a coronary artery disease, in a person, said method comprising measuring the expression level of one or more microRNAs selected from miR-30a and miR-130b.
  • the invention provides an in vitro method of the invention wherein the activation of the monocyte is indicative for the cardiovascular risk of a person, said method comprising measuring the expression level of one or more microRNAs selected from the group consisting of miR-101, miR-130b, miR-181a, miR-181b, miR-181d, and miR-335 in said sample; in particular one or more microRNAs selected from miR-130b and miR-181b.
  • the invention provides an in vitro method of diagnosing the cardiovascular risk of a person, said method comprising measuring the expression level of one or more microRNAs selected from the group consisting of miR-130b, miR-181d, and miR- 335 in a monocyte obtained from said person.
  • the present invention provides an in vitro method of the invention wherein the activation of the monocyte is indicative for metabolic syndrome in a person, said method comprising measuring the expression level of one or more microRNAs selected from miR-30a and miR-130b.
  • the in vitro methods of the invention may further comprise analysing the expression level and/or activity of one or more members selected from the group consisting of miR-146b-5p, IRAK3, SOD2, TNFAIP6, TNFAIP3, TLR2, and TNFa in said sample; in particular the expression level and/or activity of IRAK3 and optionally one or more members selected from the group consisting of SOD2, TNFAIP6, TNFAIP3, TLR2, and TNFa in said sample.
  • a sample consists of one or more cells, tissues, or parts thereof.
  • said sample is a blood-derived sample; more in particular plasma, serum, or a fraction thereof.
  • the samples used in the present invention can also comprise tissues containing activated monocytes and/or macrophages that originate from activated monocytes; examples of such tissues can include artheroslerotic plaques, cardiac tissues, liver tissues, and pancreatic tissues.
  • said sample consists essentially of monocytes or monocyte-derived material, in particular monocytes or monocyte-derived microvesicles.
  • the methods of the present invention to determine activation of at least one monocyte can also be used in a method of monitoring the progression of the treatment of a disease associated with activated monocytes.
  • a disease or disorder selected from the group comprising obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, low glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, a lipid disorder, dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, low HDL levels, high LDL levels, atherosclerosis, and a cardiovascular disease in a person.
  • the methods of monitoring the progression of treatment comprise determining monocyte activation, the inflammatory state of a monocyte, the oxidative stress state of a monocyte, insuling signalling deregulation of a monocyte, or determining the cardiovascular risk of a subject according to any one of the different embodiments of the present invention.
  • Detection of the biomarkers described herein may enable a medical practitioner to determine the appropriate course of action for a subject (e.g., further testing, drug or dietary therapy, surgery, no action, etc.) based on the diagnosis. Detection of the biomarkers described herein may also help determine the presence or absence of a syndrome or disorder associated with activated monocytes, early diagnosis of such a syndrome or disorder, prognosis of such a syndrome or disorder, or efficacy of a therapy for such a syndrome or disorder. In alternative aspects, the biomarkers and reagents prepared using the biomarkers may be used to identify therapeutics for such a syndrome or disorder. The methods according to the invention allow a medical practitioner to monitor a therapy for a syndrome or disorder associated with activated monocytes in a subject, enabling the medical practitioner to modify the treatment based upon the results of the test.
  • a syndrome or disorder associated with activated monocytes can be treated by administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a therapeutic or a combination of therapeutics that increase(s) or decrease(s) the expression of miRNAs in the monocytes or macrophages or any white blood cell.
  • Said therapeutic may include an agent that increases the expression of IRAK3.
  • Syndromes or disorders associated with activated monocytes include (1) non-insulin dependent Type 2 diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), (2) hyperglycemia, (3) low glucose tolerance, (4) insulin resistance, (6) a lipid disorder, (7) dyslipidemia, (8) hyperlipidemia, (9) hypertriglyceridemia, (10) hypercholesterolemia, (11) low HDL levels, (12) high LDL levels, (13) atherosclerosis, and (14) metabolic syndrome.
  • NIDDM non-insulin dependent Type 2 diabetes mellitus
  • hyperglycemia a lipid disorder
  • dyslipidemia (8) hyperlipidemia, (9) hypertriglyceridemia, (10) hypercholesterolemia, (11) low HDL levels, (12) high LDL levels, (13) atherosclerosis, and (14) metabolic syndrome.
  • the daily maintenance dose can be given for a period clinically desirable in the patient, for example from 1 day up to several years (e.g. for the mammal's entire remaining life); for example from about (2 or 3 or 5 days, 1 or 2 weeks, or 1 month) upwards and/or for example up to about (5 years, 1 year, 6 months, 1 month, 1 week, or 3 or 5 days).
  • Administration of the daily maintenance dose for about 3 to about 5 days or for about 1 week to about 1 year is typical. Nevertheless, unit doses should preferably be administered from twice daily to once every two weeks until a therapeutic effect is observed.
  • Adiponectin is an adipocytokine, which is mainly produced by the adipose tissue. Although it is the most abundantly produced protein of the fat cell, plasma levels are reduced in obese patients. There is growing evidence that reduced adiponectin concentrations indicate an increased cardiovascular risk because hypoadiponectinemia is associated with the components of the metabolic syndrome, in particular with insulin resistance, elevated triglycerides, and low HDL Apart from this, adiponectin possesses anti-inflammatory properties and exerts direct antiatherosclerotic and cardioprotective effects 129 ' 130 .
  • adiponectin concentrations are a cardiovascular risk factor and that therapeutic strategies that enhance the secretion or action or mimetic the action of this adipocytokine might reduce the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
  • CVDs cardiovascular diseases
  • several recently published studies on the prospective association between adiponectin and CVD events/mortality showed inconsistent results.
  • Low adiponectin concentrations turned out as a risk factor for future CVD in some studies 136 ⁇ 142 , whereas others showed that high adiponectin levels were associated with an increased risk of CVD and/or mortality 143 ⁇ 149 .
  • the invention provides an agent that modulates one or more microRNAs selected from the group consisting of let-7c, let-7g, miR-18a, miR-27b, miR-30a, miR-30b, miR-30d, miR- 101, miR-103, miR-107, miR-126, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, miR-181a, miR-181b, miR-181d, and miR-335; in particular from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-103, miR-126, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, miR-181b, miR-181d, and miR-335; for use in the treatment of at least one activated monocyte or the prevention of activation of at least one monocyte in a subject.
  • the present invention provides agents according to the invention, wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-101, miR-103, miR-126, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, miR-181a, miR-181b, miR-181d, and miR-335; in particular wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-130b, miR-151- 5p, miR-181d, and miR-335.
  • the present invention provides agents of the invention, wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-103, miR-151-5p, miR- 181a, miR-181b, miR-181d, and miR-335.
  • the present invention provides agents of the invention, wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of let-7c, let-7g, miR-18a, miR-30a, miR-30b, miR- 101, miR-103, miR-126, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, miR-181a, miR-181b, miR-181d and miR-335; in particular let-7c, let-7g, miR-18a, miR-30a, miR-30b, miR-101, miR-103, miR-126, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, miR- 181b, and miR-335; and wherein the activated monocyte is characterized by an increased inflammatory state.
  • let-7c let-7g, miR-18a, miR-30a, miR-30b, miR- 101, miR-103, miR-126, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, miR- 181b, and miR-335
  • the invention provides agents according to the invention, wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-103, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, miR-181d, and miR-335; and wherein the activated monocyte is characterized by an increased inflammatory state.
  • the invention provides agents according to the invention, wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-101, miR-103, miR-126, miR130b, miR-151-5p, miR-181b, and miR-335; in particular miR-30a, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, and miR-335; and wherein the activated monocyte is characterized by an increased inflammatory state.
  • the present invention provides agents according to the invention, wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of let-7c, let-7g, miR-27b, miR-30a, miR-30b, miR-30d, miR-101, miR-103, miR-107, miR-151-5p, miR- 181a, and miR-181b; in particular from miR-30a, miR-101, miR-103, miR-151-5p, miR-181a, and miR-181b; more in particular from miR- 30a, and miR-151-5p; and wherein the activated monocyte is characterized by an increased oxidative stress state.
  • the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of let-7c, let-7g, miR-27b, miR-30a, miR-30b, miR-30d, miR-101, miR-103, miR-107, miR-151-5p, miR- 181a, and miR-181b; in particular from mi
  • the present invention provides agents according to the invention, wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-126, miR-130b, miR-151- 5p, and miR-181b and wherein the activated monocyte is characterized by an increased oxidative stress state.
  • the present invention provides agents according to the invention, wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-103, miR-126, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, miR-181a, miR-181b, miR-181d, and miR- 335; in particular from miR-30a, miR-103, miR-126, miR-130b, miR- 151-5p, miR-181a, and miR181b; more in particular from miR-30a, miR-130b, and miR-151-5p; and wherein the activated monocyte is characterized by insulin signalling deregulation.
  • the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-103, miR-126, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, miR-181a, miR-181b, miR-181d, and miR- 335; in particular from miR-30a, miR-103, miR-126,
  • the present invention provides agents according to the invention, wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-103, miR-130b, miR- 151-5p, miR-181d, and miR-335 and wherein the activated monocyte is characterized by insulin signalling deregulation.
  • the agents according to the different embodiments of the present invention can be used for the treatment of activated monocytes or the prevention of monocyte activation in a subject that suffers from at least one disease or disorder selected from the group comprising obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, low glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, a lipid disorder, dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, low HDL levels, high LDL levels, atherosclerosis, and a cardiovascular disease.
  • a disease or disorder selected from the group comprising obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, low glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, a lipid disorder, dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, low HDL levels, high LDL levels, atherosclerosis, and a cardiovascular disease.
  • microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-101, miR-130b, miR-181a, miR- 181b, miR-181d, and miR-335; in particular one or more microRNAs selected from miR-130b and miR-181b; and wherein the treatment of said activated monocyte or the prevention of activation of said monocyte in said subject leads to a decreased cardiovascular risk of said subject.
  • the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-130b, miR-181d, and miR-335; and the treatment of said activated monocyte or the prevention of activation of said monocyte in said subject leads to a decreased cardiovascular risk of said subject.
  • the present invention provides agents of the invention, wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-101, miR130b, and miR-181a; in particular one or more microRNAs selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-101, and miR-181a;
  • the present invention provides agents of the invention, wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from miR-30a and miR-130b; and wherein the treatment of said activated monocyte or the prevention of activation of said monocyte treats and/or prevents a cardiovascular disease, in particular a coronary artery disease, in said person.
  • the present invention pvoides agents of the invention, wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-130b, and miR- 181a in said sample; in particular one or more microRNAs selected from miR-130b and miR-181a, or from miR-30a and miR-130b; and wherein the treatment of said activated monocyte or the prevention of activation of said monocyte treats and/or prevents metabolic syndrome in said person.
  • the agent of the invention that modulates one or more microRNAs is a microRNA mimic, such as for example an antagomir.
  • the agents of the present invention can also be used in combination with other agents that are known to reduce, prevent or treat monocyte activation or that are known to reduce, prevent or treat diseases associated with monocyte activation. It is therefore also an object of the present invention to provide a combination comprising
  • the inventions provides a combination comprising
  • a modulator of one or more members selected from the group consisting of IRAK3, SOD2, TNFAIP6, TNFAIP3, TLR2, and TNFa for use in the treatment of at least one activated monocyte or the prevention of activation of at least one monocyte in a subject.
  • such a combination comprises
  • the present inventions provides a combination comprising
  • the present invention provides a combination comprising
  • a modulator of one or more members selected from the group consisting of IRAK3, SOD2, TNFAIP6, TNFAIP3, TLR2, and TNFa for use in the treatment of at least one activated monocyte or the prevention of activation of at least one monocyte in a subject; in particular a combination comprising
  • a modulator of IRAK3 • a modulator of IRAK3, and • optionally a modulator of one or more members selected from the group consisting of SOD2, TNFAIP6, TNFAIP3, TLR2, and TN Fa
  • the invention provides a combination according to the invention further comprising adiponectin or an adiponectin mimetic, for use in the treatment of at least one activated monocyte or the prevention of activation of at least one monocyte in a subject.
  • the present invention provides the use of an agent according to the different embodiments of the invention to treat and/or prevent one or more elements selected from the group comprising monocyte activation, the oxidative stress state of a monocyte, the inflammatory state of a monocyte, and insulin signaling deregulation in a monocyte.
  • the method wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-101, miR-103, miR-126, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, miR-181a, miR-181b, miR-181d, and miR-335, in particular from the group consisting of miR-103, miR-151-5p, miR- 181a, miR-181b, miR-181d, and miR-335; more in particular from miR-30a, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, miR-181d, and miR-335.
  • the activated monocytes in the method according to the invention have an increased inflammatory state and the one or more microRNAs in the method of treating and/or preventing are selected from the group consisting of let-7c, let-7g, miR-18a, miR-30a, miR-30b, miR-101, miR-103, miR-126, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, miR-181a, miR-181b, miR-181d, and miR-335; in particular from let-7c, let-7g, miR-18a, miR-30a, miR-30b, miR-101, miR-103, miR-126, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, miR-181b, and miR-335; more in particular from miR-30a, miR-103, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, miR-181d, and miR-335.
  • the present invention provides a method of treating and/or preventing as hereinbefore, wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-101, miR-103, miR-126, miR130b, miR-151-5p, miR-181b, and miR-335; in particular wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-130b, miR-151- 5p, and miR-335.
  • the invention further provides a method of treating and/or prevention as hereinbefore, wherein the activated monocytes have an increased oxidative stress state and wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of let-7c, let-7g, miR-27b, miR-30a, miR-30b, miR-30d, miR-101, miR-103, miR-107, miR-151-5p, miR- 181a, and miR-181b; in particular from miR-126, miR-130b, miR-151- 5p, and miR-181b.
  • the present invention provides said method, wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-101, miR-103, miR-151-5p, miR-181a, and miR-181b; in particular from miR-30a, and miR-151-5p.
  • the present invention provides a method of treating and/or preventing as described hereinbefore, wherein the activated monocytes have deregulated insulin signalling and wherein the one or more microRNAs selected from the group consisting of miR- 30a, miR-103, miR-126, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, miR-181a, miR-181b, miR-181d, and miR-335; in particular from miR-30a, miR-103, miR- 126, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, miR-181a, and miR181b.
  • the present invention provides said method, wherein the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR- 103, miR-130b, miR-151-5p, miR-181d, and miR-335; in particular from miR-30a, miR-130b, and miR-151-5p.
  • the disease or disorder associated with activated monocytes that have deregulated insulin signalling is selected from the group comprising obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, low glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, a lipid disorder, dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, low HDL levels, high LDL levels, atherosclerosis, and a cardiovascular disease.
  • the method of the invention is characterized in that the disease or disorder associated with activated monocytes is a cardiovascular disease, in particular a coronary artery disease, and that the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-101, miR130b, and miR-181a; in particular one or more microRNAs selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-101, and miR-181a; more in particular miR-30a and/or miR-130b.
  • the disease or disorder associated with activated monocytes is a cardiovascular disease, in particular a coronary artery disease
  • the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-101, miR130b, and miR-181a; in particular one or more microRNAs selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR-101, and miR-181a; more in particular miR-30a and/or miR-130b.
  • the method of the invention is characterized in that the disease or disorder associated with activated monocytes is metabolic syndrome, and that the one or more microRNAs are selected from the group consisting of miR-30a, miR- 130b, and miR-181a; in particular one or more microRNAs selected from miR-130b and miR-181a; more in particular miR-30a and/or miR- 130b.
  • the downregulation of a microRNA of the invention is indicative for an activated monocyte.
  • the downregulation of a microRNA of the invention is indicative for a monocyte with an increased inflammatory state.
  • the downregulation of a microRNA is indicative for a monocyte with an increased oxidative stress state, with the exception for miR-151-5p, for which an upregulation is indicative for a monocyte with an increased oxidative stress state.
  • the downregulation of a microRNA of the invention is indicative for a monocyte with deregulated insulin signalling .
  • let-7c can not be selected
  • let-7g can not be selected
  • miR-18a can not be selected
  • miR-27b can not be selected
  • miR-30a can not be selected
  • miR-30b can not be selected
  • miR-30d can not be selected
  • miR-101 can not be selected
  • miR-103 can not be selected
  • miR-107 can not be selected
  • miR-126 can not be selected
  • miR-130b can not be selected
  • miR-151-5p can not be selected
  • miR-181a can not be selected
  • miR-181b can not be selected
  • miR-181d can not be selected
  • miR-335 can not be selected
  • compositions It is also an object of the present invention to provide a composition comprising the above mentioned components.
  • condition or disorder selected from the group consisting of (1) non-insulin dependent Type 2 diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), (2) hyperglycemia, (3) low glucose tolerance, (4) insulin resistance, (6) a lipid disorder, (7) dyslipidemia, (8) hyperlipidemia, (9) hypertriglyceridemia, (10) hypercholesterolemia, (11) low HDL levels, (12) hig h LDL levels, (13) atherosclerosis, in a su bject in need thereof.
  • NIDDM non-insulin dependent Type 2 diabetes mellitus
  • a pharmaceutical composition comprising an agent or a combination accord ing to the invention, for use in the treatment of at least one activated monocyte or the prevention of activation of at least one monocyte in a su bject.
  • the present invention provides the use of an agent accord ing to any one of the d ifferent embod iments of the invention in the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition.
  • compositions of the present invention for use in the methods of the present invention, can be prepared in any known or otherwise effective dosage or product form su itable for use in provid ing topical or systemic delivery of the therapeutic compou nds, which would include both pharmaceutical dosage forms as well as nutritional product forms su itable for use in the methods described herein.
  • the above mentioned components may be administrated to induce an increase or a decrease of microRNAs in myeloid cells in particu la r in blood monocytes.
  • Such administration can be in any form by any effective route, includ ing, for example, oral, parenteral, enteral, intraperitoneal, topical, transdermal (e.g .
  • ophthalmic nasa lly, local, non-oral, such as aerosal, spray, inhalation, su bcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscu lar, buccal, su blingual, rectal, vag inal, intra-arterial, and intrathecal, etc.
  • Oral administration is prefered .
  • dosage forms can be prepared by conventional methods well known in the art, and wou ld include both pha rmaceutical dosage forms as well as nutritional products.
  • compositions of the present invention can be prepared by any known or otherwise effective method for formu lating or manufactu ring the selected product form .
  • the above mentioned components can be formu lated along with common excipients, d iluents, or carriers, and formed into oral tablets, ca psules, sprays, mouth washes, lozenges, treated substrates (e. g . oral or topical swabs, pads, or disposable, non-digestible substrate treated with the compositions of the present invention); oral liquids (e. g. suspensions, solutions, emulsions), powders, or any other suitable dosage form.
  • Non-limiting examples of suitable excipients, diluents, and carriers include: fillers and extenders such as starch, sugars, mannitol, and silicic derivatives; binding agents such as carboxymethyl cellulose and other cellulose derivatives, alginates, gelatin, and polyvinyl pyrolidone; moisturizing agents such as glycerol; disintegrating agents such as calcium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate; agents for retarding dissolution such as paraffin; resorption accelerators such as quaternary ammonium compounds; surface active agents such as acetyl alcohol, glycerol monostearate; adsorptive carriers such as kaolin and bentonite; carriers such as propylene glycol and ethyl alcohol, and lubricants such as talc, calcium and magnesium stearate, and solid polyethyl glycols.
  • fillers and extenders such as starch, sugars, mannitol, and silicic derivatives
  • binding agents such as carboxy
  • Antagomirs are one of a novel class of chemically engineered oligonucleotides. Antagomirs are used to silence endogenous miRNA. An antagomir is a small synthetic RNA that is perfectly complementary to the specific miRNA target with either mispairing at the cleavage site of Ago2 or some sort of base modification to inhibit Ago2 cleavage. Usually, antagomirs have some sort of modification, such as 2' methoxi groups and phosphothioates, to make it more resistant to degradation. It is unclear how antagomirization (the process by which an antagomir inhibits miRNA activity) operates, but it is believed to inhibit by irreversibly binding the miRNA.
  • Antagomirs are now used as a method to constitutively inhibit the activity of specific miRNAs 150 ' 151 . Understanding the miRNA signature in susceptible individuals may facilitate the partitioning of patients into distinct subpopulations for targeted therapy with antagomirs 152 .
  • RNA duplexes designed to mimic the endogenous functions of the miRNA of interest, with modifications for stability and cellular uptake.
  • the "guide strand” is identical to the miRNA of interest, whereas the “passenger strand” is modified and typically linked to a molecule such as cholesterol for enhanced cellular uptake.
  • AAVs adeno-associated viruses
  • AAV serotypes allow for the potential of tissue-specific expression because of the natural tropism toward different organs of each individual AAV serotype, as well as the different cellular receptors with which each AAV serotype interacts.
  • tissue-specific promoters for expression allows for further specificity in addition to the AAV serotype.
  • AAV is currently in use in a number of clinical trials for gene therapy, of which the safety profiles have looked quite positive.
  • Kota et al recently showed AAV- mediated delivery of miR-26a blunts tumor genesis in a mouse model of liver cancer 153 .
  • systemic viral delivery of miRNAs to the heart during disease has not been performed yet, there have been a number of studies using AAV9 to successfully deliver RNA interference to cardiac tissue and effectively restore cardiac function during disease in rodents 154 .
  • inhibitors/mimics are sequestered in various kinds of liposomes/nanoparticles to further protect them from degradation and to direct them to the appropriate tissues 155 ' 156 .
  • Another technique involves conjugating a cationic protein (carrier) with a monoclonal antibody targeting a specific cell surface receptor. The antibody only binds to the cells expressing the surface antigen that it recognizes. Oftentimes, the antigen is a receptor. Prior to administration to the animal, the "conjugate" is loaded with miRNA inhibitors/mimics. The carrier binds the miRNA through electrostatic forces.
  • the inhibitor/mimic is negatively charged and the carrier is positively charged.
  • the conjugate complex Upon binding to the cell receptor, the conjugate complex is internalized and the inhibitor/mimic released into the cytoplasm to silence or mimic the desired miRNA 157 ' 158 .
  • Cell surface markers have been used for targeting cargo to mouse monocytes.
  • Sialoadhesin (CD169 or Siglec-1) is an endocytic receptor expressed on monocytes and macrophages 159 .
  • Sialoadhesin-specific immunoconjugates have been used for targeting toxin and antigens to these specific cell types 160 .
  • Dectin-1 a major receptor that recognized b-glucans, is highly expressed on monocytes and macrophages.
  • rabies virus glycoprotein (RVG) peptide was used for delivery of siRNA payload to macrophages and microglial cells in the brain.
  • RVG rabies virus glycoprotein
  • the 29- mer RVG peptide that binds specifically to acetylcholine receptor expressed on myeloid cells are linked to a positively-charged nona-D- arginine (9R) residues for binding of siRNA for efficient delivery in vitro and in vivo 162 .
  • Dendrimers are branched, synthetic polymers with layered architectures that have recently shown considerable promise in several therapeutic applications.
  • the zebrafish has proven to be a powerful vertebrate model in genetics and developmental biology. Recently it has been emerging as a model for human disease and therapy. The relatively low cost, availability of transgenic lines, external and rapid development of the embryo and transparency during development makes the zebrafish a popular and attractive model.
  • the zebrafish is an excellent model for the functional validation of miRNAs in vivo 165 . It can also be used as screening model to identify therapeutic agents that influence the miRNA expression during inflammatory diseases.
  • the myeloid lineage- which shows close homology structurally, biochemically and functionally to their mammalian counterparts- appears already after 12-16 hours post fertilization (hpf) and by 24 hpf a functional cardiovascular system has been formed 166 ' 167 .
  • Crossing this line with the Flil-eGFP line makes it possible to evaluate the interaction of the monocytes/macrophages with the endothelial layer of the blood vessels.
  • the behavior, number and interaction of the monocytes/macrophages with blood vessels and surrounding tissue can be monitored by simple in vivo time lapse microscopy 165 ' 171"174 .
  • mice can be applied for long term in vivo research.
  • Several mouse models of obesity, metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis are available in which the therapeutic potential of miRNAs can be evaluated 175 ⁇ 182 .
  • RNA-analogs have been developed to achieve silencing or mimicking of endogenous miRNAs and can be systemically administered in mice to study the miRNAs of interest 158 ' 183 ' 184 .
  • Figure 1 Monocytes/macrophages in obesity and obesity-associated metabolic disorders.
  • Figure 2 An overview of miRNAs deregulated in monocytes of obese subjects and predicted to be involved in regulating key molecules in the IRAK3-related pathway associated with increased inflammation and oxidative stress and impaired insulin signaling and sensitivity.
  • Figure 3 Expression profiles of 31 candidate miRNAs in circulating monocytes of obese and lean subjects.
  • Figure 4 miRNAs differentially expressed in monocytes of obese persons after short-term weight loss.
  • Figure 5 miRNAs differentially expressed in inflammation associated cell experiments.
  • Figure 6 miRNAs differentially expressed in oxidative stress associated cell experiments.
  • FIG. 7 miRNAs differentially expressed in insulin resistance associated cell experiments.
  • FIG. 8 miRNA decision tree
  • Figure 10 Effect of miRNA mimics on inflammation, oxidative stress and insulin resistance in vitro.
  • miR-146b-5p is an essential mediator of the antiinflammatory, antioxidative stress and insulin-sensitizing actions of globular adiponectin.
  • Table 1 Characteristics and gene expressions before and after weight loss in obese patients
  • Table 2 List of differentially expressed miRNAs in obese patients (P ⁇ 0.05)
  • Table 3 List of differentially expressed microRNAs-of-interest in obese patients with their theoretical targets as determined by in silico target prediction (P ⁇ 0.05)
  • Table 4 Characteristics of patients in the second cohort
  • Table 5 AUC of ROC curves regarding diagnostic power to distinguish CAD patients from healthy controls
  • CAD coronary angiography
  • LAD left main, LAD, Cx or RCA
  • absence of CAD was defined as having no detectable lesions on angiography, including luminal irregularities.
  • the first cohort comprised 14 lean control (27% male; BMI ⁇ 30 kg/m 2 ) and 21 obese individuals (33% male; BMI > 30 kg/m 2 ). These 21 morbidly obese subjects were referred to our hospital for bariatric surgery. Before they were included, patients were evaluated by an endocrinologist, an abdominal surgeon, a psychologist and a dietician. Only after multidisciplinary deliberation the selected patients received a laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. A 30 ml fully divided gastric pouch is created and the jejunum, 30 cm distal of the ligament of Treitz, is anastomosed to it with a circular stapler of 25 mm.
  • a fully stapled entero-entero anastomose is constructed 120 cm distal on the alimentary limb. In this way the food passage is derived away from almost the whole stomach, the duodenum and the proximal jejunum 185-187 .
  • All participants in the first cohort were without symptoms of clinical cardiovascular disease. The samples were collected between March 29 th , 2005 and May 30 th , 2006.
  • PBMCs Plasma cells were collected, and PBMCs were prepared from the anti-coagulated blood using gradient separation on Histopaque-1077 after removal of the plasma fraction. Cells were washed three times in Ca 2+ - and Mg 2+ -free Dulbecco's (D)-PBS. PBMCs were incubated for 15 min at 4°C with CD14 microbeads at 20 ⁇ 1/1 x 10 7 cells. The cells were washed once, re-suspended in 500 ⁇ Ca 2+ - and Mg 2+ -free DPBS containing 0.5% BSA/1 x 10 8 cells. The suspension was then applied to an LS column in a MidiMACS Separator (Miltenyi) 188 ' 189 . We selected CD14 + monocytes because CD14 intensity expression on circulating monocytes was found to be associated with increased inflammation in patients with diabetes 190 .
  • D Dulbecco's
  • Microvesicles were isolated from cell culture medium by differential centrifugation according to previous publications 120 ' 121 . Briefly, after removing cells and other debris by centrifugation at 300g, and 16,500g, the supernatant was centrifuged at 100,000g for 70 min (all steps were performed at 4°C). MVs were collected from the pellet and resuspended in RNase-free water. The presence of MVs after ultracentrifugation was determined with flow cytometry. To confirm that microvesicles were the correct size, flow cytometry gates were set using 1 micron beads (Invitrogen).
  • first-strand cDNA was generated from total RNA by reverse transcription using the VILO cDNA synthesis kit (Invitrogen). Quantitative (q)RT-PCR was performed on a 7500 Fast Real-Time PCR system using the Fast SYBR Green Master mix (Applied Biosystems) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Table 7 summarizes forward and reverse primers used in qRT-PCR analysis. RNA expression levels were expressed as the ratio compared to controls as previously described 60 ' 192 . To make sure that primer sequences, used in qRT-PCR, target the right gene, their specificity was validated by Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) 193 .
  • BLAST Basic Local Alignment Search Tool
  • cDNA clones for IRAK3 (and TNFAIP3 and -6, and SOD2) were used to double check the primer specificity.
  • PCR fragments were validated for GC/AT ratio, length, and amplification specificity with dissociation curve analysis and agarose gel electrophoresis 194 .
  • first-strand cDNA was generated from total RNA by reverse transcription using the Universal cDNA synthesis kit (Exiqon). Quantitative (q)RT-PCR was performed on a 7500 Fast Real-Time PCR system using the Universal SYBR Green master mix and fully validated and optimized LNA PCR primer sets according to the manufacturer's instructions (Exiqon).
  • RNU5G housekeeping gene for normalization of the miRNA content in monocytes. However, no housekeeping miRNA has been established and validated to normalize for the miRNA content in plasma and MV samples.
  • RNA Array Profiling and Target Prediction The quality of the total RNA was verified by an Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer profile. 600 ng total RNA from sample and reference was labelled with Hy3TM and Hy5TM fluorescent label, respectively, using the miRCURYTM LNA Array power labelling kit (Exiqon, Denmark) following the procedure described by the manufacturer. The Hy3TM-labeled samples and a Hy5TM-labeled reference RNA sample were mixed pair- wise and hybridized to the miRCURYTM LNA Array version 5 th Generation (Exiqon), which contains capture probes targeting all miRNAs for human, mouse or rat registered in the miRBASE version 15.0 at the Sanger Institute.
  • the hybridization was performed according to the miRCURYTM LNA array manual using a Tecan HS4800 hybridization station (Tecan). After hybridization the microarray slides were scanned and stored in an ozone free environment (ozone level below 2.0 ppb) in order to prevent potential bleaching of the fluorescent dyes.
  • the miRCURYTM LNA array microarray slides were scanned using the Agilent G2565BA Microarray Scanner System (Agilent Technologies) and the image analysis was carried out using the ImaGene 8.0 software (BioDiscovery).
  • the quantified signals were background corrected (Normexp with offset value) 196 and normalized using the global Lowess (LOcally WEighted Scatterplot Smoothing) regression algorithm.
  • miRNAs differentially expressed in monocytes of obese women compared to lean controls at a P-value ⁇ 0.05, were considered for further analysis.
  • a bioinformatic analysis was performed, which determined predicted miRNAs for each of the members of the gene cluster using the DIANA-microT, miRanda, PicTar and TargetScan target prediction algorithms 197 and compared them with the list of differentially expressed miRNAs.
  • THP-1 monocytic cells were subcultured in RPMI 1640 as described previously in detail 60 ' 192 .
  • RPMI 1640 for globular adiponectin incubation experiments, cells were cultured at a density of 1 x 10 6 cells/ml in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% FBS and 5 pg/rnl gentamicin. After 24 h, 1 or 10 pg/rnl globular adiponectin (PeproTech) was added and the cells were incubated for 6 to 24 h.
  • Globular adiponectin is a recombinant protein derived from human globular domain adiponectin cDNA expressed in Escherichia coli.
  • This protein was endotoxin free ( ⁇ 2 EU/pg) according to the manufacturer.
  • the ox-LDL incubation experiments were performed like previously described 60 .
  • cells were cultured at a density of 1 x 10 6 cells/ml in glucose-free RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% FBS, 5 pg/rnl Gentamicin, and 5.5 mmol/l D-glucose in a 5% CO2 incubator at 37°C. After 24 h, 10 "7 mol/l insulin and 9.5 mmol/l D- glucose or 9.5 mmol/l D-mannitol (osmotic control) was added and incubated for 24 h under normal growth conditions.
  • THP-1 cells were stimulated with 10 ng/ml recombinant IL-6 (PeproTech) for 24 h. Cell viability, as determined by trypan blue exclusion, was > 80%. mROS and iROS formation were measured with MitoSOX and CellROX (Invitrogen). Cells were incubated with PBS containing 5 ⁇ MitoSOX or 2.5 ⁇ CellROX for 10 or 30 minutes at 37°C and 5% CO2. The labeled cells were washed twice with PBS and then suspended in warm PBS for analysis by flow cytometry (Becton, Dickinson and Company).
  • THP-1 cells were transiently transfected with chemical synthesized HP GenomeWide siRNAs (Qiagen; target sequence: 5'-CACATTCGAATCGGTATATTA-3' (Hs_IRAK3_5) and 5'- CTGGATGTTCGTCATATTGAA-3' (Hs_IRAK3_6)).
  • HP GenomeWide siRNAs Qiagen; target sequence: 5'-CACATTCGAATCGGTATATTA-3' (Hs_IRAK3_5) and 5'- CTGGATGTTCGTCATATTGAA-3' (Hs_IRAK3_6).
  • miR-30a - 103, -126, -130b, -146b-5p, -151-5p, 181b, -181d or -335
  • THP-1 cells were transiently transfected with mIRCURY LNA miRNA Power Inhibitors (Exiqon) :
  • miR-30a 5'-TTCCAGTCGAGGATGTTTAC-3'
  • miR-103 5'-CATAGCCCTGTACAATGCTGC-3',
  • miR-130b 5'-TGCCCTTTCATCATTGCACT-3'
  • miR-146b-5p 5'- G CCTATG G AATTC AGTTCTC - 3 ',
  • miR-151-5p 5'- CTAG ACTGTG AG CTCCTCG - 3 ',
  • miR-335 5'-CA I I I I I CGTTATTGCTCTTG-3'.
  • THP-1 cells were transiently transfected with synthetic miScript miRNA mimics (Qiagen) : miR-30a : 5'-UGUAAACAUCCUCGACUGGAAG-3',
  • miR-103 5'-AGCAGCAUUGUACAGGGCUAUGA-3',
  • miR-130b 5'-CAGUGCAAUGAUGAAAGGGCAU-3',
  • miR-146b-5p 5'-UGAGAACUGAAUUCCAUAGGCU-3',
  • miR-151-5p 5'-UCGAGGAGCUCACAGUCUAGU-3',
  • miR-181b 5'-AACAUUCAUUGCUGUCGGUGGGU-3',
  • miR-181d 5'-AACAUUCAUUGUUGUCGGUGGGU-3',
  • miR-335 5'-UUUUUCAUUAUUGCUCCUGACC-3'.
  • complexes (3 pmol of siRNA/miRNA plus 6 ⁇ of HiPerfect reagent) were formed in 0.1 ml of serum-free RPMI-1640 for 10 min at room temperature and then added to each well. After 6 hours of incubation under normal growth conditions, 400 ⁇ of growth medium was added to each well and the cells were incubated for 42 hours. Gene silencing was monitored at the mRNA level by means of qRT-PCR.
  • Our target cells for the identification of novel biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets are monocytes since they are readily accessible (blood) and constitute a reservoir of inflammatory cells that infiltrate in tissues (adipose, aortic and cardiac tissues) during obesity where they actively induce oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death and thereby induce insulin resistance, atherosclerosis, and heart failure 198 ( Figure 1).
  • the first patient cohort used in this study comprised 14 lean controls (29% male; age: 33 ⁇ 3 years, mean ⁇ SEM) and 21 morbidly obese individuals (33% male; age: 39 ⁇ 3 years), without clinical symptoms of cardiovascular disease.
  • Obese subjects in the first cohort had higher IL-6, hs-CRP, leptin and glucose levels, and lower adiponectin levels, indicating the presence of systemic inflammation.
  • the higher levels of circulating ox-LDL indicated systemic oxidative stress.
  • insulin and triglyceride concentrations were higher; HDL-cholesterol was lower.
  • Obese individuals had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
  • Insulin resistance calculated by a homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) index, was 86% higher in obese subjects (Table 1A).
  • Four controls used in this study had 1 metabolic syndrome component; 1 had 2.
  • Two obese patients had 1, 7 had 2, 5 had 3, and 7 had 4 metabolic syndrome components. Thus, 57% of the obese individuals had the metabolic syndrome.
  • this model contains TLR2 as cell surface marker, N FKB and FOXO3A as transcription factors, TNFa as inflammatory output, SOD1, SOD2 and CAT as oxidative stress markers, IRAK3 and TNFAIP3 and -6 as putative inhibitors of the TLR2/N FKB inflammatory pathway and IRS1 and IRS2 as markers of insulin signaling ( Figure 2 and Table IB).
  • IRAK3, predominantly expressed in monocytes/macrophages 81 was the only inhibitor of which the expression was decreased in obese patients compared to lean controls and was associated with increased inflammation, evidenced by increased expression of TLR2 and TNFa (Table IB).
  • Low IRAK3 and high SOD2 was associated with a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome (odds ratio: 9.3; sensitivity: 91%; specificity: 77%).
  • the odds ratio of hs-CRP a widely used marker of systemic inflammation, was 4.0 (sensitivity: 69%; specificity: 65%).
  • Weight loss was associated with an increase in IRAK3 and a decrease in SOD2, in association with a lowering of systemic inflammation and a decreasing number of metabolic syndrome components (Table 1).
  • miRNAs differentially expressed in circulating monocytes of obese patients and involved in modulating the IRAK3-related pathway.
  • miRNA microarrays (Exiqon, miRBASE version 15.0) were performed on total RNA from isolated monocytes of 6 lean and 10 obese individuals. A total of 133 miRNAs were differentially expressed between obese and lean controls (Table 2).
  • a bioinformatic analysis was performed, which determined predicted miRNAs for each of the members of the IRAK3-related gene cluster using the DIANA-microT, miRanda, PicTar and TargetScan target prediction algorithms 197 and compared them with the list of differentially expressed miRNAs (Table 3).
  • the in silico analysis identified 31 miRNAs with potential targets in the presented gene cluster.
  • Figure 2 illustrates the interactions between the selected miRNAs and their potential targets in the IRAK3- related pathway associated with increased inflammation and oxidative stress and impaired insulin signaling and sensitivity.
  • the expression profile of the 18 selected miRNAs was also determined three months after bariatric surgery.
  • THP-1 cells with high levels of IL-6 characteristic for obese patients (Table 1A). Exposure to IL-6 decreased the expression of TNFa (-29%%, P ⁇ 0.01). There was no effect on m- and iROS production. These protective effects of THP-1 cells were associated with an increased expression of miR-103, miR-126, miR- 130b, miR-146b-5p and miR-151-5p indicating that these miRNAs can protect against inflammation and oxidative stress caused by IL-6 ( Figure 5B).
  • miRNAs associated with response to oxidative stress (in vitro) and related inflammation We measured the protective effects of THP-1 cells exposed to ox-LDL, evidenced by a decrease in TNFa expression (-88%; P ⁇ 0.001); this resulted in a 13% (P ⁇ 0.01) reduction of ROS.
  • the increased expressions of let-7c, let-7g, miR-27b, miR-30a, miR-30b, miR-30d, miR-101, miR-103, miR-107, miR-146b-5p, miR-181a and miR-181b indicate that these miRNAs can protect against oxidative stress and inflammation induced by ox-LDL.
  • the expression of miR- 151-5p was decreased in THP-1 cells exposed to ox-LDL ( Figure 6). miRNAs associated with insulin resistance (in vitro)
  • Insulin resistance in obese patients is characterized by high levels of insulin and glucose and thus an increased HOMA-IR index (Table 1A).
  • Incubation of THP-1 cells with 10 "7 M insulin and 15 mM glucose resulted in a decreased expression of IRAK3 (-13%, P ⁇ 0.01), IRS1 (- 29%, P ⁇ 0.05) and IRS2 (-29%, P ⁇ 0.01), and more TNFa (+ 18%, P ⁇ 0.05) and iROS (+5%, P ⁇ 0.01).
  • the characteristics of the 126 subjects are summarized in Table 4.
  • 25% of the patients were obese and 65% were diagnosed with CAD.
  • 16 patients had 0; 24 had 1 ; 37 had 2; 28 had 3; 17 had 4; and 4 patients had 5 metabolic syndrome components.
  • 39% of these individuals had the metabolic syndrome.
  • MiR-130b and miR-181a predicted a higher number of metabolic syndrome components even after adjusting for smoking, insulin, adiponectin and IL-6.
  • the R 2 -value of the model with miR-130b was 0.277 (P ⁇ 0.001); that with miR-181a was 0.262 (P ⁇ 0.001).
  • MiR-30a also correlated with a higher number of metabolic syndrome components, but its association was lost after adjusting for smoking, insulin, adiponectin and IL-6.
  • ROC analysis revealed that miR-30a, miR-101, miR-130b and miR- 181a were associated with CAD (Table 5).
  • Table 6 shows the odds ratios for CAD in relation to miRNA expressions in monocytes determined by Chi-square test with Yates' correction. Odd ratios of low miR-30a, low miR-101, low miR-130b and low miR-181a varied between 2 and 12.
  • Binary logistic regression analysis showed that miR-30a, miR-101 and miR-181a, but not miR-130b were associated with CAD after adjusting for age gender, smoking and even BMI, suggesting that these miRNAs are associated with CAD even in the absence of obesity.
  • FIG. 8 depicts an overview of the followed selection procedure to identify miRNAs-of-interest in activated monocytes. It summarizes the involvement of the selected miRNAs in processes related to inflammation, oxidative stress and insulin resistance, in said monocytes. Furthermore, this figure also illustrates miRNAs associated with the occurrence of the metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular risk equivalents and angiographically documented CAD. The selected miRNAs are depicted in bold. miRNAs detectable in plasma samples and monocyte-derived microvesicles
  • circulating plasma miRNAs secreted by all kind of cell types (including monocytes) 120-123 may have diagnostic potential in metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease 124 ' 125 .
  • MVs microvesicles
  • monocyte-derived MVs To determine the presence of the selected miRNAs in monocyte-derived MVs, we isolated MVs from THP- 1 culture medium by ultracentrifugation and measured the miRNA expressions by qRT-PCR. All miRNAs, discussed in Figure 8, were detectable in MVs secreted by THP-1 cells. Association between miRNA expressions and expressions of IRAK3- related targets (illustrated in Figure 2)
  • MiR-130b correlated with the expression of SOD2.
  • miR-181d was the best predictor of SOD1
  • miR-103 was the best predictor of TNFAIP3
  • miR-181d was the best predictor of SOD1
  • miR-335 was the best predictor of SOD2.
  • miR-103 possibly target: TNFa
  • miR-146b-5p targets: IRAKI and TRAF6 203
  • miR-335 possibly target: NF BIa
  • MiR-181d depletion also resulted in more TNFa and less IRS1.
  • miR- 181d in contrast to miR-103, miR-146b-5p and miR-335 can target the inflammatory as well as the insulin signaling pathway directly (Figure 9F).
  • Sequestration of miR-126 (possible target: SOD2) and miR-181b (possible targets: TNFAIP6 and IRS2) levels in THP-1 cells resulted in more mROS production without increasing the TNFa expression or reducing the insulin sensitivity (Figure 9G-H).
  • miRNAs of the invention indeed reduced one or more of the important monocyte activation parameters.
  • miR-146b-5p is required for the protective actions of adiponectin
  • the causal relation between decreased IRAK3 and miR-146b-5p and miR-30a levels in THP-1 cells suggest that these miRNAs are a mediator of the protective actions of adiponectin.
  • THP-1 cells were transfected with miR-146b-5p inhibitor and exposed to high levels of gAcrp30.
  • Alexander CM Landsman PB, Teutsch SM, Haffner SM. NCEP-defined metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and prevalence of coronary heart disease among NHANES III participants age 50 years and older.
  • Cipolletta C Ryan KE, Hanna EV, Trimble ER. Activation of peripheral blood CD14+ monocytes occurs in diabetes. Diabetes. 2005;54:2779- 86.
  • Circulating oxidized LDL is a useful marker for identifying patients with coronary artery disease.
  • miR-130 suppresses adipogenesis by inhibiting peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma
  • Kir wan JP Del Aguila LF. Insulin signalling, exercise and cellular
  • Coppola A Marfella R, Coppola L, Tagliamonte E, Fontana D, Liguori E, Cirillo T, Cafiero M, Natale S, Astarita C. Effect of weight loss on coronary circulation and adiponectin levels in obese women. Int J Cardiol. 2009;134:414-6.
  • the metabolic syndrome influences the risk of chronic complications in patients with type II diabetes. Diabetologia. 2001;44: 1148-54. 48. Trevisan M, Liu J, Bahsas FB, Menotti A. Syndrome X and mortality: a population-based study. Risk Factor and Life Expectancy Research Group. Am J Epidemiol. 1998;148:958-66.
  • Aderem A Ulevitch RJ. Toll-like receptors in the induction of the innate immune response. Nature. 2000;406:782-7.
  • IRAK Pelle/interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase
  • Zuncheddu MA Maschio A, Altea D, Uda M, Pilia S, Sanna S, Masala M, Crisponi L, Fattori M, Devoto M, Doratiotto S, Rassu S, Mereu S, Giua E, Cadeddu NG, Atzeni R, Pelosi U, Corrias A, Perra R, Torrazza PL, Pirina
  • IRAK-M is involved in the pathogenesis of early-onset persistent asthma. Am J Hum Genet. 2007;80: 1103-14. 81. Kobayashi K, Hernandez LD, Galan JE, Janeway CAJr, Medzhitov R, Flavell RA. IRAK-M is a negative regulator of Toll-like receptor signaling. Cell. 2002;110: 191-202.
  • apM-1 an adipocyte-specific gene linked to the family of TNF's and to genes expressed in activated T cells, is mapped to chromosome Iq21.3-q23, a susceptibility locus identified for familial combined hyperlipidaemia (FCH).
  • Adiponectin an adipocyte- derived plasma protein, inhibits endothelial NF-kappaB signaling through a cAMP-dependent pathway. Circulation. 2000;102: 1296-301.
  • Adiponectin a new member of the family of soluble defense collagens, negatively regulates the growth of myelomonocytic progenitors and the functions of macrophages. Blood. 2000;96: 1723-32.
  • T suchida A Takekawa S, Kadowaki T. Generation of globular fragment of adiponectin by leukocyte elastase secreted by monocytic cell line THP-1. Endocrinology. 2005;146:790-6.
  • T-cadherin is a receptor for hexameric and high-molecular-weight forms of
  • Plasma adiponectin concentrations in children relationships with obesity and insulinemia. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002;87:4652-6.
  • Exosome-mediated transfer of mRNAs and microRNAs is a novel mechanism of genetic exchange between cells. Nat Cell Biol.
  • adiponectin levels are associated with insulin resistance, but do not predict future risk of coronary heart disease in women. J Clin
  • Nicocia G Tanaka S, Ouchi N, Kihara S, Funahashi T, Matsuzawa Y.
  • Serum adiponectin is a predictor of coronary heart disease: a
  • Adiponectin is an independent predictor of all- cause mortality, cardiac mortality, and myocardial infarction in patients presenting with chest pain. Eur Heart J. 2006;27:2300-9.
  • CD169/Siglec-1 is an endocytic receptor that allows targeted delivery of toxins and antigens to macrophages.
  • Huttenlocher A Live imaging of chronic inflammation caused by mutation of zebrafish Hai l. J Cell Sci. 2007;120:3372-83.
  • Wilson PW D'Agostino RB
  • Levy D Levy D
  • Belanger AM Silbershatz H
  • Table 1 Characteristics and gene expressions before and after weight loss in obese patients.
  • Adiponectin ( g/ml) 10.9 ⁇ 1.8 3.9 ⁇ 0.6" 7.0 ⁇ 1.0 $$$
  • Triglycerides (mg/dl) 80 ⁇ 7 132 ⁇ 11*** 99 ⁇ 8 $$
  • Table 3 List of differentially expressed microRNAs-of-interest in obese patients with their theoretical targets as determined by in silico target prediction (P ⁇ 0.05) hsa-miR-146a 0,0219 0,8 IRAKI*, TRAF6* hsa-miR-143 0,0355 1,5 TLR2, IRS1 hsa-let-7a 0,0440 0,9 TNFAIP3, IRS1 hsa-let-7d 0,078 0,9 TNFAIP3, MyD88 hsa-miR-18b 0,0009 0,8 TNFAIP3 hsa-miR-765 0,0017 1,4 ⁇
  • IRAK4 hsa-miR-27a 0,0083 0,9 IRAK4 hsa-miR-525-5p 0,0095 1,2 IRAK3 hsa-miR-660 0,0107 0,9 IRAK4 hsa-miR-551b 0,0132 1,4 IRAK4 hsa-miR-142-5p 0,0134 0,8 TNFAIP6 hsa-miR-335 0,0138 0,8 FOX03A, NFKBIa hsa-miR-92b 0,0146 0,9 ⁇
  • Table 4 Characteristics of patients in the second cohort.
  • BMI body mass index
  • C cholesterol
  • DBP coronary artery disease
  • HOMA-IR homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance
  • hs-CRP high sensitivity C-reactive protein
  • MetS metabolic syndrome
  • ox-LDL oxidized LDL
  • SBP systolic blood pressure
  • T2DM type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  • Table 5 AUC of ROC curves regarding diagnostic power to distinguish CAD patients from healthy controls.
  • miR-101 0.74 0.65-0.82 ⁇ 0.0001 miR-130b 0.72 0.63-0.80 0.0001
  • AUC area under the curve
  • CI confidence intervals
  • Table 6 Association of miRNA expressions in monocytes with occurrence of angiographically documented CAD.
  • IRS2 5' -GCTTCCCCAGTGCCTATCTTC-3' 5' -AAACCAAC AACTTACATCTCCAATGA- 3 '

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Abstract

La présente invention concerne généralement un nouveau groupe de molécules qui affectent le stress oxydatif, l'inflammation et/ou la signalisation par l'insuline dans des globules blancs, en particulier des monocytes, et l'identification du procédé ou du système optimal pour moduler l'activité desdites molécules. L'invention permet ainsi la réduction du risque de maladies associées à des monocytes activés telles que l'obésité et des troubles du syndrome métabolique associés à l'obésité ayant un phénotype caractérisé par une dyslipidémie, une hypertension, une intolérance au glucose, une insulinorésistance et un diabète, des troubles de l'homéostasie lipidique et/ou des maladies cardiovasculaires. En particulier, ces molécules sont des microARN (miARN ou miR) qui peuvent être présents dans la cellule, dans des vésicules d'origine cellulaire qui sont secrétées dans le sang, et peuvent être détectées dans le plasma ou le sérum. De plus, l'invention concerne un procédé, par exemple un procédé ou un système de diagnostic, par exemple un diagnostic, qui fournit des informations sur comment moduler les molécules pour traiter ou prévenir l'obésité, pour séparer les patients sensibles de ceux non sensibles, et pour traiter ou prévenir les troubles du syndrome métabolique associés à l'obésité.
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