Altered pattern of circulating miRNAs in HIV lipodystrophy perturbs key adipose differentiation and inflammation pathways

We identified a microRNA (miRNA) profile characterizing HIV lipodystrophy and explored the downstream mechanistic implications with respect to adipocyte biology and the associated clinical phenotype. Human preadipocytes transfected with mimic miR-20a-3p, anti–miR-324-5p, or anti–miR-186 induced consistent changes in latent transforming growth factor beta binding protein 2 (Ltbp2), Wisp2, and Nebl expression. Human preadipocytes were transfected with miR-20a-3p mimic, anti–miR-186, anti–miR-324-5p,or control nontargeting miRNA and then cultured in differentiation medium for 12 additional days to give rise to mature adipocytes, after which RNA was collected and subjected to RNA-Seq.