This review focuses on the contribution of white, brown, and perivascular adipose tissues to the pathophysiology of obesity and its associated metabolic and vascular complications. Weight gain in obesity generates excess of fat, usually visceral fat, and activates the inflammatory response in the adipocytes and then in other tissues such as liver. Therefore, low systemic inflammation responsible for insulin resistance contributes to atherosclerotic process. Furthermore, an inverse relationship between body mass index and brown adipose tissue activity has been described. For these reasons, in recent years, in order to combat obesity and its related complications, as a complement to conventional treatments, a new insight is focusing on the role of the thermogenic function of brown and perivascular adipose tissues as a promising therapy in humans. These lines of knowledge are focused on the design of new drugs, or other approaches, in order to increase the mass and/or activity of brown adipose tissue or the browning process of beige cells from white adipose tissue. These new treatments may contribute not only to reduce obesity but also to prevent highly prevalent complications such as type 2 diabetes and other vascular alterations, such as hypertension or atherosclerosis.

Several translational studies have identified the differential role between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids at cardiovascular level. However, the molecular mechanisms that support the protective role of oleate in cardiovascular cells are poorly known. For these reasons, we studied the protective role of oleate in the insulin resistance and in the atherosclerotic process at cellular level such as in cardiomyocytes (CMs), vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs). The effect of oleate in the cardiovascular insulin resistance, vascular dysfunction, inflammation, proliferation and apoptosis of VSMCs were analyzed by Western blot, qRT-PCR, BrdU incorporation and cell cycle analysis. Palmitate induced insulin resistance. However, oleate not only did not induce cardiovascular insulin resistance but also had a protective effect against insulin resistance induced by palmitate or TNFα. One mechanism involved might be the prevention by oleate of JNK-1/2 or NF-κB activation in response to TNF-α or palmitate. Oleate reduced MCP-1 and ICAM-1 and increased eNOS expression induced by proinflammatory cytokines in ECs. Furthermore, oleate impaired the proliferation induced by TNF-α, angiotensin II or palmitate and the apoptosis induced by TNF-α or thapsigargin in VSMCs. Our data suggest a differential role between oleate and palmitate and support the concept of the cardioprotector role of oleate as the main lipid component of virgin olive oil. Thus, oleate protects against cardiovascular insulin resistance, improves endothelial dysfunction in response to proinflammatory signals and finally, reduces proliferation and apoptosis in VSMCs that may contribute to an ameliorated atherosclerotic process and plaque stability.

The insulin receptor (IR) presents by alternative splicing two isoforms: IRA and IRB. The differential physiological and pathological role of both isoforms is not completely known, and it is determinant the different binding affinity for insulin-like growth factor. IRB is more abundant in adult tissues and it exerts mainly the metabolic actions of insulin, whereas IRA is mainly expressed in fetal and prenatal period and exerts mitogenic actions. However, the change in the expression profile of both IR isoforms and its dysregulation are associated with the development of different pathologies, such as cancer, insulin resistance, diabetes, obesity, and atherosclerosis. In some of them, there is a significant increase of IRA/IRB ratio conferring a proliferative and migratory advantage to different cell types and favouring IGF-II actions with a sustained detriment in the metabolic effects of insulin. This review discussed specifically the role of IR isoforms as well as IGF-IR in diabetes and its associated complications as obesity and atherosclerosis. Future research with new IR modulators might be considered as possible targets to improve the treatment of diabetes and its associated complications.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) prevalence has significantly increased in the last decade and atherosclerosis development is the main trigger. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non‐coding RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression of their target and their levels are frequently altered in CVDs.Methods: By RT‐qPCR, we analysed miR‐9‐5p, miR‐15a‐5p, miR‐16‐5p and miR‐199a‐3p levels in aorta from apolipoprotein knockout (ApoE^−/−) mice, an experimental model of hyperlipidemia‐induced atherosclerosis, and in human aortic and carotid atherosclerotic samples. By in silico studies, Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence studies, we detected the targets of the altered miRNAs.Results: Our results show that miR‐15a‐5p and miR‐199a‐3p are significantly decreased in carotid and aortic samples from patients and mice with atherosclerosis. In addition, we found an increased expression in targets of both miRNAs that participate in the inflammatory pathway of nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB), such as IKKα, IKKβ and p65. In human vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), the overexpression of miR‐15a‐5p or miR‐199a‐3p decreased IKKα, IKKβ and p65 protein levels as well as NF‐κB activation. On the other hand, miR‐15a‐5p and miR‐199a‐3p overexpression reduced ox‐LDL uptake and the inflammation regulated by NF‐κB in VSMCs. Moreover, although miR‐15a‐5p and miR‐199a‐3p were significantly increased in exosomes from patients with advanced carotid atherosclerosis, only in the ROC analyses for miR‐15a‐5p, the area under the curve was 0.8951 with a p value of .0028.Conclusions: Our results suggest that the decrease of miR‐199a‐3p and miR‐15a‐5p in vascular samples from human and experimental atherosclerosis could be involved in the NF‐κB activation pathway, as well as in ox‐LDL uptake by VSMCs, contributing to inflammation and progression atherosclerosis. Finally, miR‐15a‐5p could be used as a novel diagnostic biomarker for advanced atherosclerosis.

According to the World Health Organization, the continuing surge in obesity pandemic creates a substantial increase in incidences of metabolic disorders, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) belong to an evolutionarily conserved class of short (20–22 nucleotides in length) and single-stranded non-coding RNAs. In mammals, miRNAs function as critical post-transcriptional negative regulators involved not only in many biological processes but also in the development of many diseases such as NAFLD and comorbidities. More recently, it has been described that cells can secrete miRNAs in extracellular vesicles (ECVs), transported by body fluids and uptaken by other tissues regulating gene expression. Therefore, this could be a mechanism of signaling involved not only in physiological pathways, but also in the development of diseases. The association of some miRNA expression profiles with certain disorders has made them very interesting molecules for diagnosis, prognosis and disease management. The finding of specific miRNA signatures to diagnose NAFLD and related diseases could anticipate the risk of development of related complications and actually, it is the driving force of the present health strategies worldwide. In this review, we have included the latest advances in the knowledge about the miRNAs involved in the development of NAFLD and related diseases and examined how this knowledge could be used to identify new non-invasive biomarkers and new pharmacological interventions.

Abnormal proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is a major contributor to the development of atherosclerotic process. In a previous work, we demonstrated that the insulin receptor isoform A (IRA) and its association with the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) confer a proliferative advantage to VSMCs. However, the role of IR and IGF-IR in VSMC migration remains poorly understood. Wound healing assays were performed in VSMCs bearing IR (IRLoxP+/+ VSMCs), or not (IR−/− VSMCs), expressing IRA (IRA VSMCs) or expressing IRB (IRB VSMCs). To study the role of IR isoforms and IGF-IR in experimental atherosclerosis, we used ApoE−/− mice at 8, 12, 18 and 24 weeks of age. Finally, we analyzed the mRNA expression of total IR, IRB isoform, IGF-IR and IGFs by qRT-PCR in the medial layer of human aortas. IGF-I strongly induced migration of the four cell lines through IGF-IR. In contrast, insulin and IGF-II only caused a significant increase of IRA VSMC migration which might be favored by the formation of IRA/IGF-IR receptors. Additionally, a specific IGF-IR inhibitor, picropodophyllin, completely abolished insulin- and IGF-II-induced migration in IRB, but not in IRA VSMCs. A significant increase of IRA and IGF-IR, and VSMC migration were observed in fibrous plaques from 24-week-old ApoE−/− mice. Finally, we observed a marked increase of IGF-IR, IGF-I and IGF-II in media from fatty streaks as compared with both healthy aortas and fibrolipidic lesions, favoring the ability of medial VSMCs to migrate into the intima. Our data suggest that overexpression of IGF-IR or IRA isoform, as homodimers or as part of IRA/IGF-IR hybrid receptors, confers a stronger migratory capability to VSMCs as might occur in early stages of atherosclerotic process.